School History 1932 Part 2

Armistice Service

On Friday, November 11th Mr. Jenkinson held a Service of Remembrance at the school, and in a short address he said that War to most scholars was simply a matter of history, but if a crisis such as that of 1914 arose again, they should be prepared to play their part as other men did in the last War. Two minutes silence were observed, and the hymns "O God Our Help in Ages Past," and "Oh Valiant Hearts" were sung. The Headmaster also read two verses of Laurence Binyon's "For the Fallen".

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Ald. Price Attacks the Cuts in Parliament

On Wednesday, November 16th 1932 the chairman of the Governors stood up in the House of Commons to speak out against Circular 1421, saying that it would reduce the opportunities of education for the children of the working class when all other countries in the world were advancing their facilities. In the West Riding, which was looked on as progressive, he claimed that the number of County Minor Scholarships had been reduced by 511. Of the 17,000 children who had sat the test, only 2.800 would receive the scholarship. Bursaries and Foundation scholarships had been reduced by 100, and County Major Scholarships from 58 to 45. He stated....

"We strongly protest against a National Government, comprising leading statesmen coming forward and asking us to submit to further reductions in the facilities for working men's children. The policy they are pursuing has robbed thousands of children from poorer homes of the opportunity of going forward."

He continued that the policy would also affect technical schools and Art schools. In its efforts to make a saving of £400.000, it would, according to Ald. Price, do £400,000,000 damage. If such economies had to be forced on Education Committees, he suggested that a number of children in Secondary Schools under the age of ten be sent to Elementary Schools, because at that age a child was not well enough developed to be in a Secondary School. He then continued,

"I want to add my earnest appeal that the Government withdraw the Circular at once. If they desire to have a trained generation in the future, now is not the time for curtailment of educational opportunities. Education is the birthright of every child. I am satisfied that if the Circular is withdrawn, the nation will receive the decision with acclamation."

The Headmaster's Lecture on Handel

Born: February 23, 1685 in Halle, Germany Died: April 14, 1759 in London, England

The last of the Autumn Term lectures at the School was given on Tuesday 29th November 1932 by Mr. A.G. Jenkinson. Assisted by Miss P.E.M. Wright, the music teacher, the Headmaster made his lecture highly interesting by the frequent introduction of musical illustrations drawn from Handel's work.

Miss Wright rendered solos, and Miss Agnew played a pianoforte suite. Eva Harris, a member of the School Orchestra played a violin solo, and Mr. Jenkinson also played gramophone records of well-known choruses sung by the Sheffield Choir to further illustrate his lecture.

A 17-0 Win

In the wintry weather of December 1932, the boys of the School Rugby Team gained a convincing win over Doncaster Grammar School. A smart move by Wilkinson ended in Senior sending Croft over for a try. The Hemsworth forwards were reliable in the scrums. Noble cut through and transferred to Croft who eluded several opponents and added a good try. Shortly afterwards, Williamson repeated this with a try which Hemstock converted. He also landed a penalty goal. Doncaster opened the second half strongly, but Wade defended well. Following a pass by Senior, Croft burst through the Doncaster defence to add a very good try, and Doncaster from this point were generally defending and narrowly escaped a larger reverse.

What's In A Name? (A Great Deal) - The Opinions

The advantage of changing the name of Hemsworth Secondary School to "Grammar School" was discussed at a meeting of the Governors in December 1932. Ald. Price was missing, and the meeting was chaired by Captain L. Hallam, who had raised the question.

Captain Hallam.............it was his experience that students seeking appointments and able to produce testimonials from a grammar school had an advantage. "I think it is our duty to give every possible advantage to the students attending this school in that direction and especially in these days when it is so difficult to place boys and girls. I think if we can give them any advantage we ought to do so and therefore I place this suggestion before you. There is no doubt that the name 'Grammar School' does carry weight." Captain Hallam added that he understood from Mr. J. H. Hallam, Director of Education for the West Riding, that all that was necessary in the first instance was for the Governors to send forward a recommendation to the county authority and they would submit it to the Board of Education. He did not think there would be any difficulty.

Mr. J. Dunleavy............. some people might regard the suggested alteration as snobbish, but he thought there was much to be said for it. Thirty years ago he passed from a secondary school to a "high school." There was no difference in the curricula, but the status of one was regarded as higher than the other. He thought the title would be an advantage to the students.

Captain Hallam......... there is no thought of snobbishness behind the suggestion. He had brought the subject forward with the genuine desire that the Governors should do all they could to enable the pupils to get the best positions in the country.

Mr. E. Ford...........at Wath on Dearne a new school had blossomed out into a "grammar school" in a very short time, but the school at Mexborough was still a "secondary school."

Mr. W. Exley.......... thought Captain Hallam had done good service by bringing this matter to the notice of the Governors. He moved that the suggestion be adopted and that a recommendation go forward to the county authority.

Mr. Dunleavy seconded.

The Headmaster (Mr. A.G. Jenkinson),................. said the idea was not new and it was supported by the Board of Education.

Mr. Isaac Burns............. said he did not think Captain Hallam wished to hurry the matter and he advised that this suggestion should be put as a notice of motion for consideration at the next meeting. "I am pleased Captain Hallam has raised this matter," added Mr. Burns, "and I am pleased to know it is not the word Hemsworth that he is objecting to."

The Chairman......... I never thought of that.

Mr. Burns............... said that by using their brains and vision they might get even a better word than "grammar" for the school.

The Chairman......... said he appreciated the observations of the Governors, and he had no wish to precipitate. It had occurred to him that it would be a step in the right direction, and he had no objection to the matter being placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

The Headmaster........... remarked that the Board of Education were anxious to simplify matters by having the same name for the same type of school.

Mr. Burns' suggestion was agreed to.

Hemsworth Urban District Council

Councillor Isaac Burns reported the recent discussions of the School Governors about changing the name of the school from "Secondary" to "Grammar" to his colleagues on the Urban District Council, and strong reactions were expressed.

Coun. A. Bednall said there was little advantage in changing the name to "Grammar" school, which was not at all suitable.

Coun. G.W. Moses thought the move would be in the direction of the archaic, looking back to the times when schools primarily taught grammar. In his opinion, that word did not raise the status of the school. Modern education embraced a wider field than just grammar.

Clearly the matter engendered strong opinions beyond the school itself.

"Quality Street" - a Hemsworth Secondary School Performance Dec 14th 15th and 17th

Because she's nearly 30 and still unwed, Phoebe Throssel is regarded as an over-the-hill spinster. Thus, when offered the opportunity for a reunion with Captain Brown whom she hasn't seen in years, Phoebe desperately wants to rekindle his affections. To this end, she poses as her own teenage niece -- and pulls off the ruse beautifully.

Cast:

Miss Fanny Willoughby    ..............Estelle Rhodes

Miss Willoughby    ........................Lorna Jagger

Miss Susan Throssel    .................Josephine Steele

Miss Henrietta Turnbull    ..............Connie Bull

Miss Phoebe Throssel    ...............Hilda Paley

Patty the maid    ..........................Marjorie Harrison

Recruiting Sergeant    ...................H. Williamson

Mr. Valentine Brown    ..................G. Grayson

Charlotte Parratt     ......................Enid Toone

Ensign Blades    ..........................Sidney Fox

Harriet    ......................................Betty Mulheir

Lieutenant Spicer    ......................L. Firman

An Old Soldier    ........................ .Alex Ramsden

A Gallant    .................................George Elvidge

Children in Miss Phoebe's School    .........Edna North, Connie White, Elsie Smith, M. Wooton and Ernest Pointon.

Other characters drawn from Valerie Bancroft, Barbara Day, Vera Carter, Olive Boulton, F.P. Jones, Edward Perry, G.W. Eastwood and J. McCroakam.

Producers    ...................Miss N. Clifford and Mr. J.A. Storer

Musical Director    ..........Miss P. Wright L.R.A.M.

Stage Manager    .......... Mr. J.A. Storer

Business Manager    ......Mr. R. Shiells

Incidental Music    ..........E. Harris, Eric Nuttall and Pattison (violinists)

The advertisements for the three social events of April 1st, July 22nd and December 23rd 1932 which were held by the old students of the school reinforce the change of name of that association to Old Hilmians.

Scholarship Means Test - The West Riding Scale

Sir Percy Jackson chaired a meeting of the West Riding Education Committee on December 13th 1932 at which that Committee's policy concerning Circular 1421 was outlined. The recommendations of the Higher Education Sub-Committee were set out for approval:

1) FEES.......That no change be made to the existing minimum fee of nine guineas per annum for pupils over 10 years of age, and fifteen pounds per annum for pupils under 10 years of age.

2) SPECIAL PLACES....That the number of special places in secondary schools to be offered in 1933 be the same as the number of County Minor Scholarships awarded in 1932 (2,040) with the addition of 40 children transferred from senior to secondary schools.

3) INCOME LIMITS....That the scale for complete or partial remission of fees for those who were awarded a County Minor Scholarship be as follows:

Parents' weekly income not exceeding £5 0s 0d and one dependant child.......Full fee given as aid.

Parents' weekly income not exceeding £5 10s 0d and one dependant child.....Two thirds of fee given as aid.

Parents' weekly income not exceeding £6 0s 0d and one dependant child.......One third of fee.

For each additional dependant child an addition of £26 0s 0d per annum to the parents' income would be allowed. (e.g. parents with an income exceeding £6 0s 0d but not exceeding £6 10s 0d and with two dependant children would receive one third of the fee.)

Fees paid by parents for other children in the family attending a secondary school would be deducted from the parents' income when applying the scale.

With three dissentients the committee adopted this scale.

Later historians have struggled to assess how many working class parents would be able to understand the scale and calculate their due.

Throughout 1932 the Geneva Disarmament Conference was taking place, attended by 50 countries and chaired by the British Foreign Secretary Arthur Henderson. The discussions lasted for two years, but no agreement was found. 1932 was a year which saw the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the discovery of the neutron by J. Chadwick, and the splitting of the atom by Cockroft and Walton. Ghandi was arrested and his Indian National Congress Party declared illegal. Franklyn D. Roosevelt was elected as President of the United States, and after November's general elections in Germany, Hitler's National Socialist Party was now the largest in the Reichstag. Broadcasting House, London, was opened during this year, and on December 25th the first Royal Christmas radio broadcast was made to the Empire by King George V.

At Hemsworth Secondary School in 1932 the basic structure of the education received by its pupils was by now well established. The four Houses; School Play, Speech Day and Sports Day were interwoven with lectures, country dancing and the presence of the newly-named but well-established Old Hilmians. Older pupils were continuing on to the Universities and the younger pupils were taking note of their role models. Discipline was good, with the Prefects system working well, and the sports teams achieving victories.

Humming along in the background was the 'engine room' of the School, namely the Governors who were the driving force of progress, although the early 1930's frustrated their aims somewhat due to the lack of funding from the local Education Authority. Overseeing all activities was the Headmaster, who had gathered around him a Staff which apart from a few occasional changes stayed loyal and long serving. At the end of 1932 they all would have been wondering how long the school would continue to be named Hemsworth Secondary School, and a few of them would have been speculating on how soon the Mining Centre would appear within the School grounds.