| Description | Commotion at Llanidan over the "Elementary Education Act of 1870": Lord Boston was evidently not in love with the new School Boards that were to be established in parishes if the ratepayers decided by a majority to have rate-supported schools (this explains papers LLIG/55-57, with references to a meeting called at the Baptist Chapel superseded by a Vestry meeting called on December). Lord Boston was ready to enlarge the present Brynsiencyn school at his own expense, and to secure a fully certificated teacher as master (on condition that the idea of a School Board be surrendered). These terms of his Lordship's were evidently adopted by the Vestry meeting, as there is no reference to Llandidan in the list of schools receiving Government grant on p.369 of the committee of Council's Report for 1871-2. Was the Owen Roberts of LLIG/59 the new certificated master (in 1864, at least, the master was David Davies, "Report of Bangor Diocesan Inspectors", p.30)? If so there was great pertubation and discontent with his control in the minds several parents (see LLIG/58,60), unpleasant scenes in the school, and directed to Lord Boston. The latter asks his agent to make discreet inquiries into the position whether Roberts is overdoing punishments; but if he finds the complaints are spitefully exaggerated, to see some of the principal persons who attended the Vestry meeting, and let them know that the discontented parents must withraw their childre at once and find education for them elsewhere.
Note: There was a School Board in operation in the parish before 1879; in the ledger of estate accounts for that year (LLIG/196, p.18) there is entered a rent of £10.2.6. as paid by the Board for school-house and premises |