b'Bishop Wilton School Log BookscontinuedKate Pratt & Kath NevinsFollowing on from an article in Bulletin 16, Kate Pratt has used research left by Kath Nevins as a basis for this second look at the School Log Books.Crime and Punishment at the school for a little over a year, was altogether Looking only at the years 1863-1868 it is obviousa tougher character, his entries being full of waspish that the approach to disciplining the boys dependedcomments, particularly towards the Lofthouse boys largely on the temperament of the School Master;from Beechwood Farm, now known as Flat Top, who the other things that must be taken into account arewere non-conformists in all senses of the word. In the changing attitudes of the time, the personality ofhis second week in place two boys were flogged for the children in the school, andof coursehow thetalking during an Arithmetic lessonthe first mention Master chose to represent the matter in the Log Book. of any corporal punishment. Boys were subsequently George Fryer was the first Master whose Logpunished for work badly done, for misbehaving during Book we have. He seems to have had very littledivine service in Church (which all the boys attended trouble with his scholars, which is quite a tributeon Wednesday mornings unless their parents to him considering that, although numbers variedarranged for them to leave school early on that day), dramatically,there seem to have been 68 boys on thefor careless spelling, for stupidity. In December 1865 roll in 1864, attending school at the tiny brick buildinghe opines: near the crossroads in the centre of the village. ToThe boys are apt to fall in a sort of stolid arrive at this number it has been necessary to countindifference which can only be overcome the names he refers to in his daily entries as nowith the assistance of a little cain [sic]. register has survived.With this image in mind, we can easily guess the Mr Fryer seems to have been a very pleasant,punishments he meted out to Steels & Richardson easy-going man, with the time to write lengthyfor quarreling in the streets last evening, and to Tutill informative entries, with hardly any need to discipline& Craggs for throwing stones cutting another boys his pupils. He refers to one lad (Croft Render) ashead. a mischievous boy, and seems able to maintainBeing kept in, either at dinnertime or after school, disciplinecertainly without the need to makewas another favoured punishmenton one occasionmention of many incidents in his daily entries. Hein the first month of his reign of terror 12 out of 16 puts his foot down over a few antisocial behavioursboys were kept late for badly done work. In his finalbad language, lying, laziness in learningbut themonth, May 1866, he had to deal with the theft of 7 punishments seem mildkeeping the boys in atshillings which had been taken from his desk bit by dinnertime or after school. There is one referencebit. He found out the offender, John Craggs, who to making an example of one, which may hint atowned to having taken it, to both myself and his something more severe. He is much troubled byfather, who punished him severely. The money was one boy (Robinson Hardwick), the son of Georgemostly spent at Mr Tutills on sweets and toys etc. At Hardwick who was a labourer at the brickyard,the end of his time in charge he was able to conclude who had an older brother to lead him astray andan advance has been made on discipline.no mother to help control him. This lad, who wasThe third School Master we get to know from the aged 9 in 1863, has several misdemeanours to hisLog Book, who is also anonymous, is a rather weak name; in December 1863 he played truant and wascharacter, who seems to have recurring bouts of insubordinate to the messenger sent to him. Twoillness to contend with; he only made entries for the days after this, having been virtually expelled, he wassecond half of 1867, but may have been in place for readmitted after begging pardon before the childrenlonger than this. He was very interested in silence, assembled and asking to be taken on as a scholarstrict adherence to rules and good manners, but again. The following month he was found out in a liemakes no mention of any punishment. He ends his trying to conceal previous misdemeanours, and thenentries before the Harvest holiday with the pious hope: in March 1864 he was convicted of stealing marblesMay it please a kind Providence to bring from the village shop window. Mr Fryer ruminates hisus together in health and strength again in badness has been developing itself for some time.a month from next Monday, prepared to On reflection, my idea of Mr Fryers calm benevolencepursue thoughtfully those important studies may be an exaggerationit may just be that he failswhich will assist us through this world, and to record any punishment meted out! guide us to one of Eternal Glory.The second (anonymous) Master, who was onlyEnter Alfred Evans, more energetic and outgoing than the last Master, but also keen to maintain 328 BULLETIN 17'