[The Times: Search: "Wandsworth Common"].
[BNA: Buckmaster Battersea 1885]
[BNA: Buckmaster Wandsworth 1885]
[London Evening Standard: Buckmaster Wandsworth 1885]
After an outcry about the letting of ground to Neal, who had trashed the Common, the government responded that the letting had been publicly advertised in The Times newspaper of June 19, 1885, and also in the The Gardener's Chronicle and in The Agricultural Gazette.
THE ANNUAL FANCY COSTUME BALL in aid of the funds of the Bolingbroke House Pay Hospital, Wandsworth Common, ..
. . . of the Bolingbroke House Pay Hospital, Wandsworth Common, takes place at the Albert Hall next Wednesday. The Annual Fancy Costume Ball in aid of the funds of the Bolingbroke House Pay Hospital, Wandsworth Common, takes place at the Albert Hall next Wednesday . . .
Published: Saturday 16 February 1885
Newspaper: The Graphic
South London Press — Saturday 31 October 1885
[EW Fithian (the secretary of the Commons Preservation Society) up for election to the School Board — speaks against building a school what is currently called "Trinity Fields", formerly part of Wandsworth Common.]
[PB: this was Edward W Fithian, the secretary of the Commons Preservation Society, shown as "Barrister-at-law and Secretary", in 1891. He was 46, living at 56 Brodrick Road with his wife and 13-year-old son Arthur, born Wandsworth.]
On Friday evening, the 23rd inst., a full and enthusiastic [meeting of the ratepayers of Balham and Tooting was held in the Lecture Hall, Ramsden-road, to hear address from Mr. E. W. Fithian (the secretary of the Commons Preservation Society), who is a candidate for this division of the London School Board. It was also arranged that, if possible, the Rev. G. M. Murphy, who was attending a meeting Putney, should come in and also address the meeting.
The Rev. B. C. Etheridge presided, and stated that he was sure the meeting was glad to know that a gentleman of Mr. Fithian's position, and one who had done such great service in their midst, had, in response to very numerous request, come forward to seek election for the School Board. His views had been freely given in many quarters, and all who had heard him were forward in agreeing that he thoroughly understood the work, and would make a most excellent and able representative. He then called on Mr. Fithian to address them.
Mr. Fithian, in the course of his address, referred to the various aspects of the education question: financially, as affecting the pockets of the ratepayers; socially, in its influence in diminishing juvenile crime and depravity, and in taking from the streets the waifs and strays of the great city; and commercially, in relation to our foreign and home trade.
He pointed out that while all have an objection to the periodical visits of the rate collector, it is necessary to distinguish between productive and unproductive rates, and to set against the cost of the education rate the advantages derived by the community in the diminished cost of juvenile crime, and in the creation of intelligent and educated population, which must necessarily increase the wealth-producing power of a great community.
A portion of the education rate ought to be regarded as an insurance fund for the public benefit. Upon the commercial aspect of the question, he gave explanations of the French, German, and Swiss systems of technical education, by which continental workmen were obtaining advantages not possessed English workmen, which gave an undue advantage to the foreigner.
The growth in recent years of industries like the art pottery of Messrs. Boulton and others conclusively established the fact that new developments of trade will follow in the wake of a scientific industrial training, and that it is to means of this kind we most future look for the retention of our superiority in manufactures, and for competing with our continental neighbours in the matter of foreign trade. rejoiced see that the City Guilds were at length using a portion of their vast wealth in this direction, and he hoped they would proceed farther in the matter, and establish technical schools for the education of our workmen in the various handicrafts which these city guilds represented.
It must, however, be borne in mind that before technical instruction could be usefully given, there must be broad and sound basis of elementary education. Prior to 1870, the elementary education of this country was entirely in the hands of the voluntary agencies, which had done, and were still doing, an extremely valuable work; but it was found that with all the enthusiasm and devotion of ardent educationalists to the work, the voluntary system failed reach the class in the community which was most in need of education.
The result was the adoption by Parliament of the Education Act of 1870, which provided for a compulsory system of elementary education, and the creation of School Boards. The London School Board was thereupon elected, and had to face one of the most arduous tusks ever set before public body; they had no example to copy; no precedent guide them; but they set themselves resolutely to the work, and, daring the 15 years of their existence, they have provided accommodation to such an extent as almost to have overtaken the arrears of centuries.
Of course this stupendous work could not be carried out without some mistakes and blunders, several of which Mr. Fithian referred to. But what the electors have now to consider is not so much what errors have been committed in the past, but what is to be the policy of the future. His own opinion was that the work of education should be carried on thoroughly and efficiently; but at the same time that efforts should be made for administering Act with more economy than in the past. School Boards were appointed to carry out the Act. Their duties were administrative, not legislative, and they should deal with the money entrusted to them as trustees deal with trust funds i.e. with the greatest possible care and discretion, always seeing that it is expended with a due regard to economy and the interests of the ratepayers.
Without giving definite pledges the subject, he thought economies might be effected (1) in the general cost of management and supervision; (2) in the department for the enforcement of the byelaws, which now spends some year in enforcing attendance, and which department appears to be managed in such a way as to create the minds of the poor a strong feeling against the very name of education: (3) the abolition of the general inspectors of the schools, accompanied by greater responsibility being cast upon the masters, and more power entrusted to the local managers, the work of the school being tested, as heretofore, by the examination of the Government inspectors; (4) by revision of the arrangements connected with the training of pupil-teachers; and (5) the more extended employment of female teachers in the lower standards. He maintained that by some such methods as these the cost working the Board schools might be considerably reduced without diminishing the efficiency or usefulness of the education given in the schools. He would, however, favour an inquiry into the expenditure of the various departments, with view to seeing in what way useful economies might effected.
An important question was involved in relation to infant schools. Under the Act it is not compulsory to take children under five years of ago; but in many schools infants of less than three years were admitted, and they thus occupied places intended for children of larger growth. Were the Act strictly adhered to as to the minimum ago, there would doubtless room in the existing schools for all the children between the statutory school ages. The infants were better cared for in the school than many of them would be in their homes; but it may be question for consideration whether other and less expensive accommodation could not be provided for them so as to make the existing schools satisfy present requirements.
As a general principle, Mr. Fithian was in favour of throwing open all contracts to public competition, subject to adequate security being taken for the satisfactory performance of the work.
The selection of sites was matter requiring attention. More regard should be paid to local considerations than had hitherto been and he referred to the proposal to build a school on a field, formerly part of Wandsworth Common, which, under the terms of the grant, was to be kept unbuilt upon for ever.
Mr. Fithian, acting with others in the neighbourhood, had successfully resisted this proposal, and the land in question continued to be used as place for recreation.
Mr. Fithian repudiated with warmth some personal charges of interested motives suggested Mr. Lucas at a recent meeting at Lower Tooting, and pointed out that he was interested in the preservation of other pieces of land which formed part of Wandsworth Common, and which, he trusted, would, before long, be restored to the common.
The suggestion that he resisted the proposed site because it was in the field at the back of the road in which he lived was uncalled for, ungenerous, and untrue.
He would also strongly advocate the throwing open children of the playgrounds during the summer evenings, as a menus physical recreation and enjoyment, and as removing them from the dangers of the streets. The school buildings should also, be thought, be utilised for public purposes to greater extent than at present, and they might thus be made, not only more generally beneficial, but also more profitable. Their employment in the evenings for lectures and meetings would be a source of income, ns in many districts there is a great lack of large rooms available for such purposes.
With respect to free education, Mr. Fithian pointed out that this was outside the Education Act, except as to a few free schools and the remission of fees in certain cases, and that it was question for Parliament to decide: subject to that observation, his own personal opinion was that when the State, as a matter of public policy and in the public interest, insisted upon every child being educated, it ought logically to have provided the means for such education the national cost.
When consider the enormous cost the collection of school fees and the heavy incidental charges, it would appear that to make free that portion of education in Board schools which is compulsory need not involve an increased charge, and, at the same time, it would remove some of the most objectionable features of the present system. But if it caused slightly increased charge — which is open to much doubt — such charge ought to be provided for means of grants from the Consolidated Fund, and should not be thrown upon the School Board rate.
In conclusion, Mr. Fithian urged the electors shake off their lethargy and take increased interest in public affairs, to consider these questions for themselves, thoughtfully and seriously, and then record their votes for those candidates with whose views they were most in accord.
At the close of Mr. Fithian's address, several questions were asked him, all of which he answered to the complete satisfaction of those present.
The Rev. G. M. Murphy (having then arrived) was called upon the chairman, and, in the course of a very interesting and exhaustive address, dwelt upon the past doings of the School Board and their future work, and showed the important issues they would have before them, the decision of which would devolve upon the new Board, and therefore how necessary it was that the ratepayers should return men who understood the work they would be called on to do.
Mr. C. de Selincourt then moved, and Mr. J. T. Woollen seconded, a resolution That the meeting approved the views expressed by Mr. Fithian and the Rev. G. M. Murphy, and pledged itself to use every possible endeavour to secure the return of these gentlemen as members of the School Board." This was carried with acclamation, one solitary hand being held up in opposition.
[Did John Conder moves to Bognor and starts another school? The advert was repeated over several months. I think not — it seems to have been an Alfred Conder — perhaps a relative?]
SOUTH COAST.
About THIRTY PUPILS RECEIVED by a Clergyman, LL.D. of Cambridge. The pupils have careful individual attention, the training of a good school, safe sea bathing, and many exceptional advantages. Address Rev. Dr. Conder, Bognor-on-Sea, Sussex.
[BNA: Link]