Rules and Regulations of the Seghill Colliery Schools, 1861
Taken from the 1864 Inspector of Mines Report
1st. The object of this society is to establish and maintain a day school for boys, and,
as far as the committee can arrange, a night school in conjunction therewith ; also a
separate school for girls ; and this society shall be an institution of the colliery, and shall
not be dissolved except with the unanimous consent of the owners and workmen.
2nd. The owners of the colliery shall provide two suitable schools, one for boys, and one for girls, together with coals ; also a house and firing for the master.
3rd. The schools to be supported by the contributions of all the men employed upon the colliery, in the following ratio :– every householder to contribute sixpence, and every man, not being a householder and above eighteen years of age, threepence per fortnight ; and any farm servant that may contribute the same amount as the colliery workmen shall be entitled to equal benefits ; also the son of any widow on the colliery (though under eighteen years of age) contributing the same as a householder, shall have the benefits of the schools extended to himself, his brothers, and sisters.
4th. The sum so subscribed to form a fund, out of which the teachers shall be paid. And books found for the use of the schools ; should any surplus remain, it shall be distributed annually in prizes to the schools as a reward of merit, if the committee shall so think fit.
5th. Children above five years of age, of all contributors, shall be admitted to the schools ; and any contributor not having children of his own, may nominate one scholar, the child of any person not belonging to the colliery, which pupil shall be entitled to all the privileges of the school.
6th. The government of the schools shall be vested in a president, vice-president, and committee of ten ; one of the owners of the colliery shall be president, and shall appoint three members of the committee, one of whom shall act as treasurer ; the vive-president and the six remaining members of the committee shall be elected by the contributors annually ; the president and vice president shall be ex-officio members of every committee ; the committee shall appoint a secretary, whose duty it shall be to keep the accounts and record all the proceedings of the society ; all vacancies in the committee which may occur during the year shall be filled up by the general committee. The committee may nominate seven ladies, who shall be requested to act as visitors to the girls' school.
7th. The committee shall meet on the first Monday in every quarter, for the transaction of general business ; three being a quorum.
8th. The system of teaching shall be left to the master and mistress of each school ; in case any contributor shall consider that he has cause of complaint against the teacher, he shall bring such complaint before the committee, at the next quarterly meeting, when such complaint shall be taken into immediate consideration. A meeting of the committee may be called at any time for special business, at the request, made in writing, addressed to the secretary, stating the object of the meeting, and signed by seven contributors. The secretary shall give three clear days' notice (Sundays excepted) of every meeting of the committee, by placing a written notice on the door of the school.
9th. Any of the scholars misconducting themselves, shall be denied the privilege of attending the school for such period as the committee may think fit.
10th. The children of any deceased contributor shall be entitled to all the benefits of the schools during the pleasure of the committee.
11th. The vacations shall be as under, viz.:–
Two weeks at Christmas;
One week at Easter ;
Three weeks in summer or autumn.
The days on which the vacations are to commence shall be fixed by the committee and the teachers.
12th. A meeting of the contributors shall be held at the end of each year for receiving the report of the committee and examining the account. Notice of such meeting to be given by the secretary.