VPRS 881 Special Returns

Full description

This series consists of volumes of bound Special Returns from schools. As a memorandum at the front of each volume states, salaries were not paid until this return had been received by the National Schools Board. Any covering correspondence sent with the return is appended to it.

Details given on the front of the Return are the correspondence registered number (see VPRS 879 Inwards Correspondence Registers), the name of the school, the number of the return and the date upon which it was received.

Details which were required to be provided were the name of the school, its composition (boys, girls or mixed), names of teachers, their status (Master, Assistant or monitor), age and religion and place of birth, the date of their appointment to the school and their classification. The names, religions and occupations of Local Patrons were listed as were details of the income of each teacher from the Board (salary, house, other and total) and from local sources. Details were provided also regarding the receipt of school fees, the number of days upon which the school was open and closed and the manner in which fees were distributed.

Later Returns required details of teachers' training in terms of whether they were trained or not and if so, at what institution and for what duration. Further details of the distribution of school fees were required with an invitation of whether they augmented the teacher's salary, were used for repairs or extensions to school buildings or for incidental expenses or for other purposes. Details of evening school attendance were also required. Returns were signed by the Principal Teacher and the Corresponding Patron.