With the closing of the day schools at Higham Ferrers for the Christmas holidays, Mr George Hustwaite completes his 21st year as headmaster—a position which he has held with the greatest credit to himself, to the thorough satisfaction of the school authorities, and to the highest educational advantages of the scholars who have come under his care. An event of such importance locally should not be allowed to pass unnoticed, and we have pleasure in publishing some interesting reminiscences which a Rushden Echo representative has succeeded in obtaining.

Mr Hustwaite entered upon scholastic work largely through advice and recommendation of Mr Fitch, H.M. Inspector, added to a real natural inclination for teaching. This was the Mr Fitch who afterwards so distinguished as Special Commissioner of the parliamentary enquiry of 1869, an Inspector of Training Colleges, author of educational works, and who was Knighted (Sir Joshua Girling Fitch) in 1895. It was

In 1864

when Mr Hustwaite started teaching: and his apprenticeship extended over a period of five years—from the beginning of 1865 to the end of 1869. Schools were then working according to the requirements of the Revised Code, the Measure which was introduced by Mr Lowe in 1861 during Lord Palmerston’s Government. This measure provided for definite classification, individual examination, and payment by results.

On completing his apprenticeship at the Wesleyan School, Tollerton, Yorkshire, he went into residence for a course of two years’ training at Homerton College, London. The late Rev Dr Unwin was the Principal. It was while he was in College that Mr Forster’s Education Act of 1870 was passed. This Act introduced three new principles into English educational legislation:-

It provided also for the establishment of School Boards where school accommodation was insufficient.

Mr Hustwaite’s

College Course

was completed at Christmas 1871, and he went immediately as head teacher on supply for three months to the British School, Houndsgate, Nottingham. It was during this temporary charge that Dr Unwin wrote offering him, and strongly advising him to accept, an appointment to Rushden, “near Higham Ferrers”, to a school about to be opened by the Nonconformists. Dr Unwin had been to see the place and the Managers and had promised to send a suitable man, and he was of opinion that Mr Hustwaite was just the man wanted there. At once Mr Hustwaite accepted this offer, setting aside others which many would have judged better, and accordingly

Made His Way to Rushden.

Mr George Tailby, sen, now of Stanwick, was his first acquaintance. Mr Tailby very kindly interested himself in the new teacher and found him comfortable lodgings. It is interesting to note here that Mr Geo Tailby, jun, of the firm Tailby and Putnam, was Mr Hustwaite’s first scholar, for he accompanied his father and the new master on that Monday morning, April 6, 1872, when Mr Hustwaite went to open the school.

The building was the Old Temperance Hall (a new building then), situated at the corner of Newton-road and Backway (now Park-road). The school managers were:—The late Rev R E Bradfield (president), Mr G Tailby, sen., Mr Geo Denton, C.C., the late Mr Charles Byaes, the late Mr Colson (manufacturer), the late Mr Dickens (baker), and the late Mr Ebenezer Knight, Mr Haydn Packwood being the correspondent. Probably if England had been “picked” a better body of school managers than those at Rushden could not have been found. For those who are still living Mr Hustwaite entertains the greatest respect; and he has the most profound respect for the memory of the departed. The late Mr W H Wilkins was keenly interested in the General School; in addition to being a subscriber, he freely gave his services to the work of the evening schools.

From the first morning Mr Hustwaite was happy in

The “General School”

as it was called. He seemed to get the children into perfect order with the minimum of effort, and the managers were kind. As a very young man, he was also vastly encouraged by his Head Inspector, Mr W E Currey. When Mr Currey advised the granting of Mr Hustwaite’s parchment he made the endorsement:- “G Hustwaite shows good ability for teaching. The school is in excellent order.”

“What are your earliest recollection of Rushden?” asked our respresentative.

“I found Rushden to be a large village,” Mr Hustwaite replied. “The census of the year before I went showed the population to be 2,200. It was

A Very Old-Fashioned Place.

I can, in my mind, now see that very long narrow street with its stone-built and thatched buildings. Shops of any importance were few in number. I remember gentlemen going over to Higham Ferrers to be shaved. It was also necessary to go to Higham Ferrers, or further, to purchase a lady’s or a gentleman’s hat. I found the shoe industry in operation, and I remember four manufacturers—Mr Cave, Mr Denton, Mr Colson, and Mr Wm Claridge. The late John Gross, farmer, was a subscriber to the funds of the General School Society, as was also the late Mr Thomas Sanders. During the first few years of my time at Rushden

The Teaching of Needlework

was effected by four young ladies, who gave their services. These were Miss Gross, Miss Wallace, Miss Foskett and Miss Bradfield (now Mrs Fred Knight).

In reply to questions from our representative Mr Hustwaite affectionately mentioned the names of some of his old scholars.

“Mr C L Bradfield,” he said, “was pupil teacher with me, and Mr Abner Colson, now headmaster at Sharnbrook, was a beginner as teacher when I left. In addition to George Tailby, jun, many others still living in Rushden were my scholars—Mr Fred and Mr Arthur Cave (Messrs John Cave and Sons Ltd), Mr Godfrey Ward (provision merchant), Mr Chas Smith, chemist (the two latter coming from Higham Ferrers), Mr Jaques (Messrs Jaques and Clark), all the children of Mr Crick (Messrs Crick and Patenall), Mr Desborough (fruiterer), Mr Arthur Mantle (Ateendance officer for this district), Mr F Vorley’s children, Mr Harry Warren, Mr Fred Corby (currier), Mr Oliver Claridge (Messrs Ebenezer Claridge and Sons) and his sister, Mr Ebenezer Wrighton and his sisters, the children of Mr Henry Bull, of Mr Jabez Colson (the latter was Mr John T Colson’s father), of Mr Ebenezer Cox, of Mr Wm Clark (late Messrs Clarke and Linnitt), and of Mr Mackness. Mr Ernest Bayes (contractor) and Mr Fred Bayes (baker) were other two of my boys. The children of Mr C Hewitt, the former postmaster, and the children of Mr Joseph Darnell, were with me, and, indeed, many others. It is always a great pleasure to me to meet my

Old Scholars

especially as they acknowledge me so kindly”.

In 1876 another Act of Parliament made compulsory attendance general, and an Act in 1880 increased the stringency of compulsory attendance.

In 1877 Mr Hustwaite began to feel that the voluntary system of necessity decline, and that he ought to be securing a Headship in a Board School. He therefore resigned his office at Rushden, applied for, and was appointed to the Board School at Buckland Brewer, Bideford, North Devon. This was also a new school. Here his work was very successful, and he held office from April 1877 to April 1882.

The he removed to yet another new school—at Walcott, Lincoln.

It might be noted here that between his giving notice of resignation at Rushden and the completion of the same a public meeting declared in favour of

A School Board for Rushden.

A poll was demanded and taken. This also resulted in favour of a Board. The Board was formed with Mr Hustwaite’s then School Managers in the majority. He was strongly advised and pressed to remain, but, as he had been selected out of a good number of candidates and had accepted the Master-ship at Buckland Brewer, he felt that he must go. Shortly after he left Rushden his old friend, the late Mr Wood, was appointed.

At Walcott he became very comfortable and was getting on so satisfactorily that he had no desire for further removal. But a vacancy occurred at Higham Ferrers, his wife’s native town, and he could not resist Northamptonshire. He therefore became one of the one hundred and forty odd candidates and was appointed. He

Came to Higham

at Christmas 1884, and commenced duties on January 5, 1885. The School Board at that time consisted of Mr Geo. Wyman (chairman), the Rev E Templeman, Mr Charles Groome, Mr Charles Parker, and Mr Philip Shelton, all of whom, as well as Mr James Sargent, Clerk to the Board, are deceased.

Mr Owen Parker was chairman of the School Board during nine years of Mr Hustwaite’s headmastership. He retired and was succeeded by Mr Samuel Pack. Mr Patenall (the Mayor) is now the Chairman of the Managers.

In 1890 the Code Act provided for the formation of Evening Continuation Schools, and in the same year, individual examination was superseded by examination by sample and a general grant was made on the average attendance. In 1891

Education Was Made Free

for all between the ages of three and fifteen years. Of late years, inspection has taken the place of the former examination days. It is natural to suppose that after so many years’ service at Higham, Mr Hustwaite is now training the second generation. This is so. He has a number of children whose parents used to attend his school.

For some time after coming to Higham, Mr Hustwaite was again working under the friend of his more youthful days, Mr Currey, who was assisted by the late Mr Simpson. That most worthy gentleman—now Head in the Cambridge district—is just about to retire from the Inspectorate.

Mr Hustwaite has done a good deal of work in his time. He has been continuously engaged in education since 1864, and has probably done as much school work as any man living, of his age. When he was a pupil teacher he had to teach not less than two fair-sized classes during the five days per week, to give object lessons to two or three classes combined, to take singing, and at time take Bible-lesson with the assembled school.

At Rushden

Mr Hustwaite and Mr Bradfield did the whole of the work, excepting, of course, the needlework, with, later, the assistance of a clever promising boy, Ebenezer Bayes, who died young. At Buckland Brewer and at Walcott he had the whole of the standards and infants, with only one pupil teach to assist. When he came to Higham he took Standards IV To VII and “kept an eye” on another class. Then he has taken evening school work for many years, having had classes in each of his four places.

In answer to our representative, Mr Hustwaite said:

“I like teaching as well as ever I did. A mixed school is to my mind very decidedly preferable to separate departments. In a mixed school there is a mutual influence which is very beneficial, that of the girls being to tone down the boys, and that of the boys being to strengthen the girls. Then there is the fostering of a

Healthy Spirit of Emulation.

I have had girls who would do a model drawing or a coloured design in freehand, or a composition bearing on a lesson in elementary science or other subject, or a sum in stocks, quite as well as the boys. Few sights are prettier to me than a mixed school assembled.”

It is interesting to note that when Mr Hustwaite first took up his duties at Higham Ferrers a boy or girl was allowed to be a half-timer after passing the second standard and reaching the age of ten years. Some years he had more half-timers than the schedule, which provided for 80 names, would hold. After a time the age was raised to 11 years and the standard to the third. In time it was 12 years and at last we have reached a time after which no more partial exemption certificates are to be issued. Mr Hustwaite has now only two half-timers.

“I like Northamptonshire” Mr Hustwaite told our representative, “better than any other part of the country, and I should much like to live twenty-one more years at Higham Ferrers.”