Chapter 4

The visit to St Alsagers and Bottomly would require an overnight stay. It was at the far end of the county; indeed it was so close to the border with their neighbours that half the pupils came over the county line. The school had been established in the town to provide secondary education for the girls of the district; the neighbouring county was less liberal in their ideas and had no such school nearby so the middle class parents often offered to pay for their daughters to attend. The income was welcome to the school board as it provided a small defence against those who suggested that women did not need to be educated.

“Good morning Mister Small, we are well met I think”

“Ah, Miss Bellingham, it is indeed a delightful morning. And the view before me is perfectly wonderful.”

Miss Marjorie Bellingham coloured slightly. Jack hadn’t intended it as a compliment to her, but she seemed pleased so he let it lie.

“I wonder, Mister Small if I might ask a favour, you are soon to be visiting St Alsagers and Bottomly I believe? I wonder if I might accompany you. I am interested in girls ... their education I mean; I would welcome the opportunity to see the school”

“Of course, of course. Most welcome. It is, as you know, some distance. The last train from Bottomly is at 3pm, I fear. We would have to take accommodation for the night. I thought perhaps a visit to the primary – Lakeside Church of England – in the morning and then spend the afternoon and following morning at St A’s.”

“Excellent plan. Shall I arrange for a room? Can you suggest an hotel?” she actually said ‘an ‘otel’, she was very refined.

“I have taken a room at The Magus, the hotel in the main street.”

“I shall write this instant. Oh, I am so excited! I really enjoy being involved in the education planning of the county”

Her letter sent, she assumed all was satisfactory and they set off two days later.

Lakeside school was an interesting demonstration of the sadness of urban living. The building was dirty from soot, the children looked poorly fed and not particularly clean. The two steeled themselves to sit beside children who they were sure had fleas ... or worse. They talked cheerfully to the pupils, and earnestly to the teachers attempting to provide a valuable education in such poor environment. The head was concerned that his school might be given a poor report, Jack Small responded “It would be unprofessional to make rash promises; but I feel you can be confident that the report will be complimentary concerning all you or your staff have control over, and will make recommendations for improvements in the matters over which you have little or no influence” He was as good as his word, recommending that the board pay for window cleaners to tour the county schools regularly. A small but important improvement in letting light into the dingy classrooms. He also established on his own initiative a book fund for well-to-do families to give books or money for the primary schools to be able to offer reading books of variety to the pupils.

The school – everyone called it St A’s, both because its official name was too long and because young ladies should not have to say ‘bottom’ - was quite a contrast. Established on a new site on the edge of the town, it had open airy vistas, playing fields and pleasant, clean classrooms.

They arrived early enough to sample the lunchtime menu, which was also a contrast to the early visit. The pupils of the primary might have an apple with them, or a piece of bread (another innovation that took longer to achieve was to offer school lunches), here the pupils had a choice of pleasant food. The teachers had even more choice, but both Mr Small and Miss Bellingham felt they would prefer to eat with the pupils to experience the atmosphere of the school. Mr Small found himself at a table of pretty sixteen year olds who were, at first, diffident at talking with a man. Their silence meant he observed them more thoroughly, their white blouses tucked tightly into skirts meant that their small bosoms were all well emphasised. Not the purpose of the school uniform policy, to be sure, but still a welcome fact.

He stopped that line of thinking and asked about favourite lessons and the like. The pupils slowly became more forthcoming. It transpired that sport was the order of the afternoon for their year group. The school was keen on keep fit. Whereas some schools encouraged active competition, here the keep fit regime involved much work with balls and Indian clubs; much jumping on the spot. One girl suggested he might be interested to watch and there was a giggle round the table.

Miss Bellingham was interested in the younger girls with whom she was sitting. Two were willing to talk about much besides the lessons, and ask questions too. She wondered if Mr Small (they had not breached protocol and used first names) would see that as positive (‘the pupils have active and enquiring minds’) or negative (‘the young ladies have an unhealthy willingness to push themselves to the fore’).

Still, lunch over, they made their way to the French lesson where a woman of fifty or so was droning on about the conjugations of Avoir. It was clear that she was one of those teachers with an ability to make a challenging subject boring as well. As the pupils were set to writing sentences, the two visitors walked around “I think you mean ‘tu eus’ don’t you?” Jack asked one girl who looked up, gave a beaming smile and quietly said thank you. The teacher looked daggers at him, apparently her teaching method was to let them make mistakes and then shout at them for ages. It didn’t help them learn.