STAMPED: [Dept of Public Instruction 16 Feb 1914 * 12389]
Public School
Darby’s Falls
13th February 1914
re Classification of School etc.
Sir,
I beg to inform you that your communication re the classification of my school, and my removal from same, reached me on 6th inst. And I ask that the matter be reconsidered and that the school be raised to 5th class and that I be left in charge of it for the reasons stated hereunder.
When I took charge of this school in May 1910 it was a Provisional with an enrolment of sixteen. I was not here long when I found that there a number of children who could attend the school although living some considerable distance from it. I visited their parents with the result they came to school.
I also found the rabbit trapping the cause of some boys remaining away from school. But by talking to the parents and the boys themselves, and pointing out to them the evils of this work, I succeeded in getting these boys to attend school regularly. Trapping is now a thing of the past. I do all I can to persuade the parents to keep their children at school as long as they are able to do so. There are now four pupils over 15 years of age attending school.
Two children drive a distance of over 8 miles, and two six miles to this school. I succeeded in getting the co-operation of the parents (after much talking and explaining) with the result that the equipment of the school is almost complete, being purchased from funds raised by school concerts and picnics. Included in the equipment is a library of over 80 volumes and periodicals, also a sewing machine.
The parents have promised to supply me with sufficient wire netting for the fence I have asked to have erected, also to build a bridge across the creek which runs between the playground and the road.
I had many difficulties to overcome, and I claim that the growth of the school is due to my efforts. The only residence obtainable when I came here was little better than a hut. It consisted of 4 rooms, neither lined nor ceiled, with no floor in one room. I lived in that place for three years at a rental of 10/- per week. Then Mr H. Newham built a new cottage to oblige me.
The school ground is now the beauty spot of the locality. One of the first things I did after I came here was to make a vegetable and flower garden, which have been improved each year. To do this I had to take out 16 large box trees, split posts and erect a fence round the garden.
This garden has been the means of the boys starting both vegetable and flower gardens at their own homes. Last Cowra Show we obtained first prizes for vegetables and flowers. To carry on the gardening successfully I dug a well and purchased a pump and piping with funds raised by a concert. As the well is 8 chains from the garden the cost of the piping was considerable.
I also put down a tennis court and cricket ground for the children and have taught them how to play the games.
My wife also takes a keen interest in the girls and has taught them sewing, cookery, jam making, fruit preserving, work in plaster of paris and various others.
I have a 3.B. classification; have secured a 3.A. efficiency for the last 6 years; have one subject to complete my 3.A. and have 11 years service. I have been in charge of this school for 2 years and 9 months, and the average attendance for the last two years has been that of a 5th class school.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant
(Sgd) Chas A Johnson
Teacher
The Chief Inspector Dept of Public Instruction Sydney