of the remission of school fees but the plea of poverty of the parent or guardian in care of the children; and we have no right whatever to calculate on the earnings of brothers with the view to compel them to pay the school fees of their brothers and sisters. The Clerk said he had no doubt that Mr. Williams was legally right. The Chairman observed that whether he was legally right he did not know, but certainly he could not be morally so. Subsequently, the Rev. R. Williams proposed, and it was ultimately resolved, that the Board should pay the school fees of two of these children for two months; and the mother to pay for one of them.

Another case of hardship in February 1876 received different treatment as detailed below.

February 1876. During a Board Meeting Neglecting School Attendance  Mrs. French, wife of Thomas French of Vochrhiw, was ordered to appear before the Board in consequence of an order from the attendance officer for not sending her children to school, four of whom were of school age. A long and desultory tale was told by Mrs. French, pleading poverty, and stating that the amount of earnings received into her house did not exceed the sum of £1 between the husband and another boy, and claiming also the right of educating her own children. As the story of Mrs. French was not considered feasible, and was ultimately rejected by the Board, it was ordered "that she be requested to send her children to school, and in case of default that they be proceeded against."

The following report illustrates the amount of school fees that were in arrears

December 1874 Attendance And Payment Of School Fees   
The following monthly report of the attendance officer was read:

Name of School                                          Vochriw
Average number present per week                 138  
Number on register                                        180   
School fees received                                     £4-15-5  
School pence in arrears                               £3-14-11

During February 1875 an application was received from Shiloh Baptist Church Brithdir (Penybank) to rent them the use of the Vochriw Board School for the term of six months, for the purpose of holding religious services. However, this was refused.

During June 1876 the Board visited Fochriw school and found the school was overcrowded especially in the classroom. There were 218 names on the register and the attendance was 188, being 38 more than the accommodation. There were 75 infants present on the day of the committee's visit, and these were taught in one small classroom. Approval was therefore granted