Butler to school board officer?

[RosieJ]

My g-g-grandfather's occupation on his son's birth certificate in 1861 was domestic butler. In the 1881 census he is listed as a waiter but by 1885 he is a school board officer. How did one become a school board officer and what did they do? I'm assuming that they were the equivalent of a modern educational welfare officer, rounding up truants. Somehow it seems a bit of a leap from waiter to school board officer.

Anyone got any insights?

Rowena

[suttontrust]

This is surmise, but a School Board Officer wouldn't have needed training or qualifications in those days.  School Boards date from 1870, if my memory serves me right, and he may just have worked in a fairly menial capacity.  But dramatic career changes weren't uncommon a century or so ago.  I have someone who started as a schoolteacher, became a labourer, and then a butcher!  It's only in recent years that we've demanded formal qualifications for everything.

[RosieJ]

Thanks for the reply. What you say does make sense.

I'm pretty impressed with your rellie's career changes though!