ITHACA_November_PRINT

Miss Maggie Abraham was a student at the school from 1897. For the 1985
Centenary she wrote a description of what school was like for her as a student.
“About 9am the bell would ring and everyone assembled at the back of the
school. We formed lines and greeted the Headmaster “Good Morning Sir” –
saluted the flag, sand the National Anthem and marched to the classroom. The
Headmaster’s name was Mr Vowles (known as Chooky Fowles).
In my day we used slated and slate pencils. To clean them we had a small round
tin with a little sponge. We also wrote with pen and ink. Sometimes the well was
too full and many a blot ended up on our copy books.
On the wall hung a Good Manners Chart which we read every day (but did not
always obey).”
Arthur Exley was our first Headmaster of the school between 1901 and 1912.
Corporal punishment was the most popular method of discipline (with the
teachers if not the pupils). This was meted out for such offences as sulking,
writing rude words on a slate and disobedience to a pupil teacher. Stealing
lunches and bringing beetles into school earned a similar punishment.
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PG. 3