Ysgol Henner 1910 - 1915 / Henner School 1910 - 1915

Ysgol Henner (Llanwnda) School c.1915

Ysgol Henner Llanwnda School 1915

Ysgol Henner Llanwnda School 1914

Ysgol Henner School

Yn y cyfnod hwn, roedd yr ysgol o dan ofal y prifathro Mr Evan Anthony. Mae’r cofnod hwn o’r ‘County Echo’  21 o Ebrill 1910 yn adrodd yr hanes am ei ymgais i sicrhau gwell amodau dysgu i’r staff (enwir Miss Roblyn a Miss Daniel) a’r disgyblion – dros 300 ohonynt! Roedd y Cyfarwyddwr Addysg wedi cytuno bod adeilad ysgol newydd yn cael ei hadeiladu, ond tra’n aros am hynny, digon anodd oedd amodau…..

At this time, the school was under the care of the headteacher Mr Evan Anthony. This article from the ‘County Echo’ of 21 April 1910 tells the story of his attempts to secure better conditions for teaching staff (Miss Roblyn and Miss Daniel are named) and for the pupils – over 300 of them! The Director of Education had agreed to the erection of a new school building, but, while waiting for that, working conditions were proving very difficult…..

HENNER SCHOOL - INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION. INSUFFICIENCY OF STAFF.

A meeting of the Managers of this institution was held at Fishguard Council School on Thursday evening under the presidency of Mr Walter L Williams. The Deputy Clerk (Mr R E Williams) submitted a letter from the Director of Education enclosing a copy of the Inspector’s report upon the school. This, having already appeared in the Echo, was taken as read. A letter was submitted from the Clerk to the Education Committee sanctioning the action of the managers in regard to the construction of a cesspool. Mr J C Bowen satirically remarking, amidst laughter, that it was very good of the Committee.

The headmaster (Mr Evan Anthony) reported that, during the past month, the attendance had been only fair, averaging 84 per cent. He had examined the Infants Division the first week after the holidays and, considering the small attendance and the changes which had taken place in the staff, the results had been very satisfactory. He had issued thirty circulars pointing out the penalty for failing to send to school children over five years of age, and this had resulted in no less than 25 additional scholars being enrolled. There remained about half a dozen, but these would probably join on the following Monday.

The number on the books in the Infants Division was 115, but there was only accommodation for 80. He contrasted this with the state of affairs prevailing at the Fishguard School where, with 95 on the books Miss Edwards had the assistance of an uncertificated teacher and, on four days of the week, of a student teacher, whereas his staff consisted of a certificated teacher and a supplementary teacher for classes which consisted of 47, 35 and 33 scholars respectively.

He thought, he said, that the Managers would quite agree with him that he could certainly claim an additional teacher for the Infants Department. The present arrangement was unfair both to teachers and to scholars, inasmuch as newcomers could not be grouped with those who had been at the school for some time, and a supplementary teacher could not be expected to deal effectively with sixty or seventy children.

The numbers were constantly increasing, and he anticipated that they would reach 130 by the end of May, whilst the fact that all were taught in the same room made the case stronger. He would like also at least two dozen kinds of desks, having seating accommodation for only eighty out of 115 scholars.

Miss Roblyn one of his most successful teachers possessed the best qualifications for her position and he asked the Managers to recommend the Committee to place her in the next grade to that which she now occupied, thus raising her maximum salary from £50 to £55 per annum, of which she was certainly deserving. Reverting to the question of accommodation, he pointed out that Newport with only seventy pupils on the books, had a head teacher and two assistants after taking away Miss Daniel, who had been transferred to Henner. He did not say that either Fishguard or Newport was over staffed – in fact, they were understaffed—but Henner needed more room and more teachers.

Mr T James (Caerlem) moved that the Education Committee be recommended to supply an extra teacher. He had, he said, visited the school, and was aware of the disadvantages under which it was labouring. He also strongly supported the suggestion with regard to Miss Roblin, remarking that she was one of the most successful teachers they had ever had at the school, and that if any teacher in the county deserved such an augmentation it was she. The dual motion was seconded by Mr W James and agreed to.

The Chairman said he had mentioned the question of accommodation to the Director of Education, who had said that the only remedy would be for children to go across to Fishguard until the new building at Goodwick had been erected. Mr Anthony said it would be impossible to break up families in that way. The Chairman said he was afraid that the Education Committee would not provide further accommodation. Mr Anthony said the official accommodation at the school was 281, and the number on the books 340, whilst the average attendance in fine weather was over 300.

Mr 0 D Jones said the Clerk of Works (Mr Manley) had informed that work on the new Goodwick School would be able to be commenced about the beginning of June.  The delay which had arisen in this connection was adversely criticised by several members. On the motion of Mr J C Bowen, seconded by Mr T James, it was agreed to send a very strong recommendation upon the subject to the new Education Committee. It was stated that no reply had been received from the Education Committee in regard to the Managers recommendations that the question of school attendance be left in their hands, and Mr T Lewis remarked that the present arrangement was a mere farce, whilst Mr Anthony said there had been no improvement in the case previously complained of at Dyffryn, and Mr T James against the  existing system.