WASHINGTON GLEBE SECONDARY

19 November 1917

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19 (cont.), 20, 21 & 23 November 1917

Transcript

Nov 19
A "School Strike" as it is termed in the
newspapers - which have been paying a good deal
of attention to it - has interfered with attendance
today. The pits in the district have been working
very badly during the last three months, and mass
meetings of the miners of Usworth & Washington on
Saturday & Sunday instructed parents to keep
their children away from school today as a
protest against the alleged delay and indifference
of the County Education Comm. in putting the "Feeding ...

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... of Necessitous School Children Act" into operation.
There have been 119 & 120 children absent in the
morning & afternoon respectively today, but of these
not more than 70 can be traced directly to the
Strike. There has been no "picketing" in connection
with the affair, & I can hear of no act of violence
against the children attending.

Nov 20
The Strike continues, & we have practically
the same number absent as yesterday, though some
of the "strikers" have come in. It appears from the
newspapers that that the Usworth Schools have been
much more affected that the Washington ones,
but mining is practically the only employment there
in Usworth while we have the Chemical Works &
Cook's Iron Works in Washington.

Nov 21
An agreement between the Strike leaders &
the County Authority appears to have been arrived
at yesterday, & word was sent around last night
to parents that they might let their children
return to school today. As a consequence most of
the "school strikers" returned this morning, and
our attendance is again practically at its normal.

Nov 23
In consequence of the above mentioned Strike
attendance figures are very low this week.

WASHINGTON BIDDICK

16, 19, 20 & 21 November 1917

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WASHINGTON BIDDICK JUNIORS

23 November 1917

Transcript

Nov 16
Attendance for the week 85%.

Nov 19
Today Monday the attendance is very low
only 56% of the children being present.
Some of these are ill but 30% have been
kept at home by orders of Miners Union, in
the attempt to force the Education Committee to
provide free Breakfasts and Dinners for children.
because of their alleged inability to feed
them at home because of loss of work.

Nov 20
Attendance slightly improved.

Nov 21
Dispute having been settled by other
methods children are allowed to return.

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Nov 23:
Attendance for week 79.7%
The low attendance is due to the fact that
on Monday & Tuesday many parents
kept their children at home because
the Act for the Feeding of Necessitous School Children
had not been put into operation.

FATFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL

16 March 1917

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FATFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL

20 November 1917

Transcript

Mar 16
In view of the shortage of food in the
country due to the Great War, the Education
Committee have secured from the Lambton
Estate a plot of Ground opposite the boys'
playground to be used in the production
of food in connection with school gardening
now being introduced as a Special Subject.
The plot is 2 chains long by 1 chain wide,
or 968 sq. yards, 'tis yet to be fenced round.
The plot will be worked as opportunity
& weather permit.

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Nov 20:
25 of our boys absented themselves
yesterday afternoon, and 7 this morning
in sympathy with the strike instigated
at Washington & Usworth by the men to enforce
the feeding of necessitous school children.