EDUCATION
It was reported in the 3 December 1881 issue of the Merthyr Express that the following teaching staff had had their salary reduced. Mrs Greening, Vochriw, reduced from £70 to £60 p.a. or, if she undertook sewing, salary would remain the same. Miss Snook, Penybank, reduced from £70 to £60.
The following was reported in the 12 April 1890 issue of the Merthyr Express
The New Code and Welsh Schools The concessions granted by the New Code to the special circumstances of Welsh schools are of the utmost importance. In effect, they will open the door to a thorough change in the whole system of Welsh elementary education. Summarized briefly they amount to this:-
1. Welsh grammar may be taught as a specific subject in Standards V, VI, VII, and a grant of 4s. will be paid on account of each child who passes this examination.
2. A rational system of teaching English as a class subject by means of a graduated system of translations, and an appeal at each step to the intelligence of the children, may be substituted for the present requirements in English grammar in all standards, and a grant of 2s. per child, on the average of the whole school, will be paid if the results of the examination are satisfactory.
3. In all standards, and in all subjects taught in the school, bi-lingual reading books may be used, and bi-lingual copy books may be used in teaching writing. 4. The geography of Wales may be taught up to Standard III., and the history of Wales may be taught throughout the whole school, by means of books partly in Welsh, partly in English, and a grant of 2s. per head, on the average of the whole school, may be earned for each of these subjects, if the results in the examination are satisfactory.
5. Schools taking up the new method of teaching English as a class subject may also claim the right to substitute translation from Welsh to English for English composition in the elementary subjects, and thus reap double benefit.
6. Finally, the small village and country schools, so numerous in the Principality, may for the purposes of class teaching, re-arrange the standards in three groups: Group 1 - Standard 1 & II; Group 2 - Standard III; Group 3 - Standards IV, V, VI, VII. This will be a material relief to under-staffed schools.
2. A rational system of teaching English as a class subject by means of a graduated system of translations, and an appeal at each step to the intelligence of the children, may be substituted for the present requirements in English grammar in all standards, and a grant of 2s. per child, on the average of the whole school, will be paid if the results of the examination are satisfactory.
3. In all standards, and in all subjects taught in the school, bi-
5. Schools taking up the new method of teaching English as a class subject may also claim the right to substitute translation from Welsh to English for English composition in the elementary subjects, and thus reap double benefit.
6. Finally, the small village and country schools, so numerous in the Principality, may for the purposes of class teaching, re-
Fochriw schools were closed during May 1891 due to an unspecified epidemic.