Að glæða sálargáfurnar og auka þekkinguna

REJUVENATING THE SOUL AND ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE | SPACIOUS AND FINE-LOOKING ROOMS IN THE STUDENTS’ DORMITORY 45
There was no dormitory for boarders at the school for the first few years but in 1887 the entire school
building was put at the school’s disposal and then a dormitory was added. In 1888 the periodical
Ísafold contained an advertisement for the dormitory:
“Boarders are provided with: a bedroom, dining
room, and reading room, which are all spacious and
fine-looking rooms. They are furthermore provided
with storage spaces for foodstuffs, which they can
bring from home, and also for storing any such articles
as they may need to bring with them. They must provide
their own bedclothes. They purchase lighting and
fuel on a collective basis, and naturally it will therefore
be cheaper for each of them as their numbers grow, and
the same goes for servicing and cleaning of rooms.”
While the elementary school was still housed in the building, accommodation was somewhat cramped
but when it was relocated there was more space to go round and then there was room for 12-14 boys.
At first the arrangement was that the schoolboys living in the dorm clubbed together only for the
mid-day meal but had to provide their own breakfast and supper on an individual basis. Those among
them who had worked as seamen during the fishing season had grown accustomed to the plain fare
that was the staple aboard ship, mostly dried food, meat paste and butter. However, early on the
decision was made to have a communal canteen for all the schoolboys’ meals. The boys would elect
two representatives from among their ranks and these two were tasked with purchasing foodstuffs and
keeping the household accounts. A housekeeper worked in the dorm and took care of cooking and
cleaning and also made the students’ beds. For this she got both room and board at the dormitory’s
expense. Despite all this, staying in the dorm was always cheap and this made it possible for boys of
little means to attend the school as boarders.