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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Feliss on Sunday 27 May 18 14:12 BST (UK)

Title: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: Feliss on Sunday 27 May 18 14:12 BST (UK)
Good evening everyone. The image I've included looks very small. I hope you can view a bigger version somehow?

This is a record of employment for a relative of mine, Carrie Merrin. She was a school teacher in a tiny school on the goldfields in NSW in the 1880s, though she was not a trained teacher.

I've been able to decipher most of the record but the second line has me stumped.

The first line reads: "Instructed to take temporary charge of Beryl P. 28th November 1882". This refers to Beryl Public School which was near Gulgong.

I'm not sure whether the line under that begins with the word "Tried" but in any event cannot work out the rest of it. The next two lines seem to contain only ditto marks.

In case it helps, this is what I have for the lines after that:

Line 5: "Cautioned as to neglect of lesson documents."
Line 6: "Removed from Beryl to Avisford P S."
Line 7: "Failed to obtain promotion at examination of 15th June 1885."

Obviously she was not a very good teacher!

Any and all assistance will be gratefully received.

Felicity

Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: shanghaipanda on Sunday 27 May 18 15:20 BST (UK)
I think I see "examination" in the centre of the second line.
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: philipsearching on Sunday 27 May 18 15:27 BST (UK)
I think I see "examination" in the centre of the second line.

I did wonder about that - but it looks like exanimation - if so, the decline in educational standards is not new!

Philip
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Sunday 27 May 18 15:33 BST (UK)
Tinkered with

Malky
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: Girl Guide on Sunday 27 May 18 15:35 BST (UK)
I think the first word begins with T as it looks the same as the T in Temporary.  Then I can see what appears to be 'at 94' then examinations as has been suggested by others.  Can't work out the last word yet.

Added: Could that last word be 'fields'??

Added 2:  So does that make the first word 'Tried'??
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: shanghaipanda on Sunday 27 May 18 15:42 BST (UK)
Could it possibly be Failed at examination .....?
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 27 May 18 15:44 BST (UK)
I think that what looks like '94' is the 'Ex' of examination.

Then I was wondering if the last word might be 'held'. (Where? When?) But I'd go for Tried rather than Failed.
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: sami on Sunday 27 May 18 17:27 BST (UK)
Wondering about breaking the sentence up a bit differently:

Tried ? exam in ?

sami
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: Rhododendron on Sunday 27 May 18 17:49 BST (UK)
Could the first words be:   Tried.  Sat 9 examinations.   

I'm sure that is a full stop after "Tried".
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: Rhododendron on Sunday 27 May 18 17:51 BST (UK)
Correction.  Omit the "9" that I wrote as it does seem to be part of the word Examinations.

So to revise my original.  I think it reads "Tried.  Sat Examinations"
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: orkrad on Monday 28 May 18 00:13 BST (UK)
 Hi there This website gives lots of information on 1880's schooling in NSW  including pupil teachers. http://www.schoolhousemuseum.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/NSW-Public-Instruction-Act-of-1880-and-Regulations-1880-syllabus-sm.pdf  Scroll down to page s 23 and 25 which explain the areas in which the pupil teacher was examined and the wages they received.  It doesn't answer your query but it gives quite an insight into what was expected of pupil teachers who were usually aged 13-17. Regards Orkrad
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: sami on Monday 28 May 18 23:49 BST (UK)
Correction.  Omit the "9" that I wrote as it does seem to be part of the word Examinations.

So to revise my original.  I think it reads "Tried.  Sat Examinations"

I'm still stuck on this one. If we accept Rhododendron's interpretation what's the word after examinations? Could it be 'held'?

What about - Tried ? exam in options field.

sami
Title: Re: 1880s Employment Record
Post by: Karen McDonald on Tuesday 29 May 18 10:15 BST (UK)
This one is beginning to bug me!  ;)

I've tried enlarging the scan and looking at it from different angles, but I can't even see "examination" in the middle! I keep seeing aninortias..!

Well, it is 30 degrees here today and we are all wilting...

Regards from N. Germany,
Karen