A Head Teacher’s Diary Entry

[ This short piece of creative writing was the result of an exercise in a Camden Archives writing workshop. The work done was inspired by reading original documents, this one by examining an entry in a School Diary. The dates, facts and issues were there. The “story” within the Teacher’s Diary Entry takes the facts and turns them into what might have been the teacher’s version of the day, in her own diary.]

July 7th 1904

Re-opened. The worst is over, it appears. Roll 428. The average attendance for June was  241.3 i.e. 56.3%. This compares well with previous years. I had thought it would be much lower.

Most staff are back but not all. Mrs Nevers, formerly Miss Taylor, has not returned as yet.

Too worried by the atmosphere, the poor air, the smell of poverty I suspect. She says she has been diagnosed as bronchial, but I wonder? If she persists I will need a replacement. Hope it doesn’t last until her baby arrives. That’s not until Christmas.

Jenny O’Grady has returned, still scratching her head, killing the lice with her thumb nail when they jump from her hair on to the desk. I try to ignore it and focus on her amazing writing, but it is hard not to cringe, not to draw back when marking her work in Period 4 English. This remains my favourite lesson but I do wish Jenny’s parents would bathe her.

No Michael Dobson. I hope it’s only work for early harvests. Such a bright lad. He could be the next Brunel if he has the chance. They say his mother used to be a governess. Perhaps that’s why he came to school already able to read and takes such an interest in books. Another dirty diamond.

The Right Honourable Mr Phillips also marched in today, on time as usual, to enjoy his “Inspectorial Role”. Ram rod straight, he gloated over the punishment book. “Anyone need any special attention before I go,” he asked, hopefully, his hand hovering longingly over the cane rack, fingers flexing.

No,” I said, firmly, ignoring the disappointed look. Then, hating myself, I apologised. “We’ve only just come back after the epidemic, you see. Five children died this time, and many more are still severely ill. Measles is a terrible thing, isn’t it?”