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'THE story of the changes that Stewarton School has undergone I since it
was first opened in I876 is one of gradual growth and adaptation to meet
ever-varying conditions. The single substantial building then erected at
the end of New Street—now called Dunlop Street—still does service, but it
is no longer sufficient for the educational needs of tile town and
district. To meet the growing demand for education of a higher and also of
a more practical nature the Higher Grade School was erected in 1911 to the
rear of the original building ; and in 1920 there was built the Infant
School in Corsehillbank Street to relieve the congestion of the Primary
School, most classes of which had pupils in excess of the number then
permitted by the Education Department to be taught by a single
teacher. Externally the original building presents little change from its
appearance in 1876, apart from the replacement, on account of decay, of
the square wooden turret on the roof, by an octagonal metal one, somewhat
squat and less artistic in appearance. The iron finials, too, which
ornamented the arched projections in front of the school had to be removed
a few years ago as a measure of safety. The grass-plots and shrubs that
once adorned the front playground have long since disappeared, as have
also the four sycamores which had outgrown their bounds, and whose removal
was much regretted by many. It is rather interesting to note that as far
back as I883, i.e., only seven years after the erection of the school, an
extension was made at the rear of the school on the west side. The
additional room thus formed served as the Infant Room of the school till
the erection of the new school in Corsehillbank Street, when it was
converted into the Science Room of the Higher Grade Department, the
purpose for which it is still used. The condition of the old building even
at this date is a splendid tribute to the quality of the stone of which it
is built—white free-stone from. Hillhouse Quarry with red facings from
Ballochmyle Quarry— and also to the excellent workmanship of the builders
of those days.
Internally the school has undergone many changes. These have been chiefly
brought about as a result of the reduction in the size of classes. In the
early days classes of 40 pupils and over were by no means uncommon, but
successive Regulations of the Education Department have reduced that
number till at present no class in the Primary Department may exceed 50,
and in the Post-Qualifying Department 40 pupils. The natural method of
dealing with the new situation was to divide each large room by a glass
partition, making one room into two. This was done in the case of three
large rooms in 1906. From the school Log Book we learn that for a time one
of the rooms was divided by a curtain. This may have separated the classes
from the view of each other, but cannot have been very satisfactory for
teaching purposes. On account of the large classes, too, galleries were
necessary in the classrooms. These have been removed from all the
classrooms except three, and their removal from. these is merely a matter
of time. It is greatly to the credit of Stewarton School Board that as
early as 1906 they converted one of the ordinary classrooms into a Drill
Room, a purpose for which it is used to-day, although it is now felt to be
rather small for modern requirements.
Apart altogether from the reduction in the size of classes school life in
general has undergone a complete, change since 1876. This is largely due
to the abolition of the vicious system of Payment by Results, and of the
rigid enforcement of a cast-iron code. Teachers have now much greater
freedom in the bringing on of pupils at a pace suitable to their ability
and in framing their own schemes of work. That day of dread, " the
examination day," in the old sense of the term, with its Sunday suits and
white-scrubbed slate frames, no longer figures in the school calendar.
Inspectors' visits, which may occur any day now, arc rather enjoyed than
dreaded. No longer have teachers to resort to all manner of devices in
order to anticipate the latest type of question the Inspector is likely to
ask. There has been much cutting out of " dead wood," too, in all the
school subjects, and a better knowledge of the working of the child mind
has enabled improvements to be wrought in the presentation of the various
school subjects. There has also been a transformation in the get-up of
school books. Nowadays these vie with each other in attractiveness. The
fact is also realised much more clearly' than formerly that the child has
a body as well as a mind, and that both require training and care if
education in the true sense is to result. Hence the important place given
nowadays to physical exercise and organised games, and the establishment
of a Milk Scheme for the schools of the country as a whole. Medical
Inspection too plays a large part in modern education, and that with
beneficial results. Defects of vision and hearing, nose and throat
troubles, all of which formerly passed unnoticed or were taken for
granted, are now early detected and remedied. The trend of modern
education is to make it cover the whole life of the child and not exist as
a thing apart. Thrift is taught in a practical way by the establishment of
Savings Associations. The child's love of doing things is more freely
recognised. Handwork is receiving ever-increasing prominence in the early
stages of education, and every modern school of any size is equipped with
a Laboratory, a Workshop, a Cookery and a Laundry Room. Stewarton School
Board are to be congratulated in having erected the Higher Grade School
with its rooms of this description as far back as 1911. Even Broadcast
talks in various school subjects now form part of the regular curriculum.
On the opening day in 1876 some 502 pupils were enrolled from the two
schools that had previously done service in the town. The roll of the
school to-day stands at 473. In view of the shrinkage that has taken place
in the size of the average family in the interval this is rather
remarkable. But it must be remembered that in those days the pupils left
school at a much earlier age than at present, and that nowadays large
numbers remain in attendance at school long after the legal age is
attained. The likelihood is that in ability and general characteristics
the pupils of to-day are much the same as their prototypes of sixty years
ago. There are still those to whom learning comes quite naturally, others
who realise that there is nothing for it but to get through with it, and
others still to whom it is something of a struggle all the time. On the
whole, with the smaller classes of to-day, " the wind is much better
tempered to the shorn lamb " than formerly. Much more individual attention
can be devoted to the latter type. The general atmosphere that pervades
the average classroom of to-day is one of happiness and joy. The
pleasantest of relationships exists between the pupil and the teacher
There is still the same tendency as of old for the modern pupil to go
where he should not go, and to do what he should not do. Vetoes and
threats, however, are less common than formerly. There is less repression,
and the exercise of a wise freedom is fostered. A greater trust is reposed
in the pupil, and on the whole he can be said to have responded to it. The
games the pupils engage in are much the same as of old. Marbles,
chestnuts, hoops, skipping ropes, " transfers " and scraps still make
their appearance at the due time each year. The pupil of to-day, once his
confidence has been won, is a wonderfully artless and confiding creature.
Indeed, there is no limit to the extent to which he will confide in his
teacher. It is this that constitutes the chief charm of teaching young
children to-day.
Of the teachers who marched up with the pupils sixty years ago only a few
survive. Mr. A. L. Watt, who had been Headmaster of the School in the
Cunningham Institute since 1875, was the first Headmaster of the New
School, and held that position till his retirement in 1907. Thereafter he
stayed in Stewarton for a time, but finally removed to Falkirk where he
spent the rest of his days. He was a capable teacher and was faithful in
the discharge of his duty. He was ever keen to encourage those who showed
ability above the average, and many of his pupils occupy positions of
trust to-day. He enjoyed the esteem of the whole community. Miss Marion
Miller, who was Infant Mistress in 1876, retired from active service in
1897, and is still with us. She was greatly loved as a teacher, and has
still a kindly word for every one, and a warm place in her heart for every
good cause. Mr. Simpson, previously Headmaster of the School in Springwell
Place, and later of the High Street School, was an earnest and faithful
teacher, as was also Mr. Matthew Paton. Both of these arc long since dead.
Of the Pupil Teachers in 1876 Mr. James Currie later became Headmaster of
Symington School, Ayrshire, and Mr. John Simpson, a son of the Mr. Simpson
already mentioned, after serving for a time as Headmaster in an
Aberdeenshire School, settled in Edinburgh. Mr. Currie died some years
ago: Mr. Simpson still survives. Of the two other Pupil Teachers, Miss
Janet Fisher was for many years Infant Mistress of Little Mill School, and
finally left the teaching profession on her marriage. She is now Mrs.
Davidson and resides in Stair. Mr. Hugh L. Warden, the other Pupil
Teacher, also survives. After qualifying as a teacher he spent practically
all his teaching days in Kilmarnock Schools, and retired a few years ago
from the Headmastership of Glencairn School. He enjoys his retirement and
finds plenty to occupy his time with in gardening, bowling and engaging in
church work." Mr. T. G. Philip, M.A., succeeded Mr. Watt in 1007, and
continued to act as Headmaster till 1920, when he was transferred to the
Headmastership of Galston Higher Grade School, a post which he still
holds. He has a genius for organising, and has always been an enthusiast
in the cause of Education. It was during his tenure of office that the
Higher Grade Department was established and that the school was
re-organised in keeping with its new Sub Intermediate status. The present
writer has been Headmaster since 1920 In 1924 the status of the school was
raised from Sub Intermediate to Intermediate level, and since that time
the school has been recognised as doing the work of the first three years
of the Secondary Course, and has been staffed accordingly. The number of
pupils in the highest class, i.e., 3rd year Post-Qualifying, is 22, which
constitutes a record. The attendance of the school as a whole throughout
the present session as far as it has gone has reached the high level of
95%. This also is a record for the school.
One final word remains to be said regarding the change in administration.
From 1876 till 1919 the school was under the management of the School
Board. In 1919 as a result of the Education Act of the previous year the
Education Authority was made responsible for the schools throughout the
County. In 1929 the Education Committee of the County Council took over
the administration of the schools, and the Education Authority as a
popularly elected body came to an end. Stewarton School Board can be said
in its time to have pursued a thoroughly enlightened policy in keeping its
buildings up-to-date as regards heating, lighting, and sanitation, in
setting apart and equipping a Drill Room when such things were rare, and
in erecting the Higher Grade Department for higher education and for
practical work in 1911. The passing of the School Board has tended
somewhat to lessen local interest in the school. This tendency has in
large measure been overcome in recent times by the institution of "
Parents' Day." Mention ought to be made of the faithful service given
since 1919 by various local gentlemen as members of the Education
Authority, the County Council, the School Management Committee, and as
Conveners of the School. Acknowledgment is also made of the interest taken
in the school by the community as a whole at all times, and of the warm
support that is always given to everything that pertains to its welfare.
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