St Thomas School

The History of Our School

(taken from the School Log Books and Church 150th Anniversary booklet)

The very earliest schooling

St Thomas Church was built in Arbroath in 1848. Fr. Alexander Gordon organised the building and left spare ground available next to the church and chapel-house for a possible school to be built in the future.

He was the first to start a night school. His class to begin with in the choir loft of the church. Later a building was acquired in Panmure Street for the evening school.

By the 1860s, in addition to a Sunday School, day and night schools were being held in the main part of the church itself. The average attendances was about 70. Over the following 10 years appeals were made to raise money to build a Catholic school in the town.

Education for all

In 1872 an Education (Scotland) Act was passed. It tried to establish a uniformed approach to education throughout the whole of Scotland.

The first school is built

In August 1878 St. Thomas School was built next to the Church. Money had been successfully raised by the people of the parish and beyond. When it was opened it was described as 'a handsome edifice, very substantially built and arranged to serve as school and for a hall.'

Number of pupils and teachers

In 1883 records show attendance at the Day school (mixed boys and girls) averaged 48. The Night school from October to February (Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday) averaged 24.

In 1888 the school had a certificated teacher and an average attendance of 58.

The Government Inspector came that year and reported that 'discipline and results are very satisfactory.' The small number in the school gave cause for concern but by 1890 the average was 100 and an assistant teacher had been added to the staff. However, by the end of the century numbers were down to 64 again.

In the first 32 years there were 11 Head Teachers and almost twice as many assistants. If the school didn't have enough qualified staff it was penalised by having money deducted from its grants.

Free Education 1893

Although compulsory, education was not free until 1893. It was the parents' duty to see that 5 to 13 year-olds had elementary education in reading, writing, and arithmetic. School Boards would see that this was done and had powers to prosecute the parents if they did not send their children to school.

Visitors to the school

In the early days of the school there were numerous visits by priests and other church dignitaries from many parts of the country, apparently to observe the progress of the 'new' school. Other visitors occasionally brought gifts of sweets etc and in May 1911 the pupils received school bags from a benefactor.

Checking the register

The staff was almost exclusively female and unmarried but lessons (and lectures on cleanliness and punctuality) were also given by the Rev. Manager who was the parish priest. He would be called on if a teacher was ill and it was also his duty to regularly check attendance registers and periodically call the roll. Grants at this time were dependent on attendances. Attendance was so crucial, therefore, that almost daily comment is logged, and high points such as days of perfect attendance so rare that they are noted with great satisfaction. Specially recorded was the fact that in November 1919 Robert Connell received two books from the Arbroath School Management Committee for 7 years perfect attendance.

Reasons for absences

Poverty and home conditions were often responsible for bad attendance. Children would be kept at home to look after sick relatives or to help the family income. Pupils were admitted or left school on dates other than recognised term times.

Absences are also noted at the end of May for 'term' or family 'flitting' .

In the main, however, absences were for sicknesses and fevers - regular outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, scarlatina, influenza (one pupil died in of that in 1898) ringworm, diphtheria, scarlet fever, German measles and Spanish flu.

Lessons

In the classroom set pieces in arithmetic, and also other subjects, were chanted to help remember tables, dates or geographical locations. Books were in scarce supply. Also on the timetable were singing, drawing and RE. and needlework for the girls, though if it was a Feast day the girls would not have sewing but arithmetic or dictation instead! History, geography and nature study were later introduced and in 1892 maps of Europe and Asia. a globe, and a 'bold feature' map of Scotland were added to the classrooms. Later still girls would attend cookery and laundry classes at Keptie Centre. The boys would attend there also to learn woodwork. Keptie School was the venue for examinations.

Work instead of lessons

Boys also left to work 'half-time'. Although there were absences for potato lifting annually, in 1917 exemptions were granted for this purpose to a few pupils as recognised 'war work'.

Holidays and breaks

Holidays were normally in the Summer weeks. Local public holidays known as St. Thomas Fast Days were also given. Gradually longer Spring breaks were given and eventually an Autumn break was introduced.

There was a day off in May for Queen Victoria's birthday (later Victoria Day then Empire Day).

Before the turn of the century the winter break was normally a single day at Christmas and a week for New Year.

Specially recorded is the introduction in 1880 of a five-minute afternoon recreation break.

More school closures

Holidays were granted when the school was required as a polling station for municipal, parliamentary or school hoard elections.

It was often closed officially by Medical Order when there was a health epidemic in the town - every few years -and this could be for up to six weeks.

School was also closed when the weather was especially severe.

Children were granted a holiday for attending shows which came to town - some of those named in the logbooks were -

Barnum & Bailey's Circus (September 1899).

Buffalo Bill Show (August 1904).

Bostock & Wombwell (June 1908).

A holiday was announced after success in the Boer War (1900) and Peace being declared (1902).

There was a day off for the opening of the Water Works in June 1908.

Bad weather closures

Snowstorms and severe weather are regularly recorded, as this had major effects on attendances. Surprisingly there was a severe storm on August 24th 1900 and heavy snowfalls on April of 1912 and 1919. In 1918 they were directed to economise on coal and light!

Medical visits

Visits by a doctor and nurse are noted along with dental and eye examinations.

Closed for cleaning

The premises were regularly closed for scrubbing, to be disinfected and to have floors re-laid and desks re-varnished.

Discipline

Discipline revolved around punishment for stone throwing, which seemed to be rife and crops up frequently in the logbooks, for climbing the walls in the playground and for ball games in the playground. In June 1911 one pupil was dismissed for insubordination.

New lessons

Drawing, drill and singing later became recognised parts of the curriculum.

Singing was a weekly class with new songs introduced regularly, and of course performed for visitors. The only record of song titles in 1884 includes 'Bright Beams the Morning', 'When our Work in School is Done', The Birdie's Ball'. 'The Bird and the Children'. 'O Where are the Sweet Lovely Flowers?', 'The Blue Bells', 'Hark the Whistle Sounding' and 'O'er the Blue Wave".

Inspectors' comments

Inspectors' reports make interesting reading but as a sample of the more eccentric -

December 1900 - "The removal of one or two superfluous articles of furniture from the Infant Room would give more room for such physical exercises as are conducive to the health and happiness of the little ones'.

February 1904 - "Playground is in a deplorable state - every shower of rain floods it and renders it unfit for use . This was noted as having been improved by the following year.

1912 - it was commented that the 'playground was not divided by sex'. (boys and girls together in one playground)

Later buildings

The Primary School continued to be taught in the three classroom building beside the church for almost 87 years, until June 1965 when the new school was opened in Seaton Road. The official ceremony was by the Rt. Rev. William Hart. Bishop of Dunkeld.

Since 1918 the management and maintenance of the school had been transferred to the local Education Authority and the new building was opened at a time of introduction of new methods and activities.

An annexe extension was added in the late 1960s. By 1998 work had begun on a permanent extension, which. by re-siting classes, provided accommodation for a nursery department.

This new extension was opened 28/6/99. http://sites.ecosse.net/stthomas/opening_extension.htm