Camden Public School

Telephone02 4655 8049

Emailcamden-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

History

 

 

EARLY HISTORY OF CAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOL

The first schools at Camden were established in the 1840s.  One was established at Camden Park by the Macarthur family for the children of their employees and the other was a Church of England School formed in the village in 1845.  The Camden Park School moved to the village in1844 and later merged with a smaller Catholic school.  The Church of England school closed in 1878.

Camden Public School

In July 1849 a public meeting was held to petition the newly formed National School's Board for a National School to be set up in Camden.  61 people signed a petition and James Macarthur presented it to the National School's Board on 13th August and asked for their support.  By the end of August they had approval, and James and William Macarthur gave an acre block of land on the corner of Mitchell and John Streets where it was planned to erect a building worth 150 pounds on the site.  It was to measure 50 x 24 feet with a large school room and smaller classroom and the builder was Richard Basden.

In September 1849 the school began in Doust's cottage most likely on the former Camden High School site. This was rented for 4 shillings a week while the school was being built. A Mr Starr was engaged as an interim temporary teacher until the National board teacher could be appointed.

The first National Board teacher of the school was Charles Elder who was 38 years old, trained in Edinburgh and was married to Mary Ann who was also a teacher. He began on the 8th October 1849.   The Elders were excellent teachers and as result the school had grown from approximately 59 students to 125 by the end of 1850. Children attended from Camden, Macquarie Grove, Cawdor, Cobbitty Corner, Camden Park, Elderslie and from as far away as Razorback

The minimum salary a teacher was paid in a national school was 40 pounds and this could be augmented by annual gratuities by the local patrons and the Board when good conduct reports of the teacher were received. The teacher's incomes were also increased by the pupil's fees.

Charles Elder was paid 40 pounds a year and Mrs Elder was paid 10 pounds a year for sewing.  School fees were fixed at 2 shillings per week per child even though the National School's Board suggested no higher than a shilling. 

The subjects taught at the time that Camden National School started were: reading, grammar, spelling, arithmetic, geometry, book-keeping, geography and scripture.  History was not included in the syllabus until the late 19th century as it was thought not to be a subject suitable for children.

In its first year the school was inconvenienced by the inability of the National school's Board to supply it with books. James Macarthur purchased as many as he could and was later paid back.

The local regulations for the school were drafted on the 17th October 1849 by the official Patrons of the school: - William and James Macarthur (sons of John Macarthur), the Reverend R. Farrelly, Mr Salem and Mr C. Tomkin. In November 1849 the Patrons received approval for the school to operate on every day except Saturday afternoon and Sunday from 9am till 12.30 and 2pm till 4pm.  Later this was amended so that there were three hours of school in the morning, and a two hour break for lunch.  In summer one hour was allowed for lunch and school finished at 3pm.

Scripture was taught twice weekly and as the Anglican clergyman the Rev Edward Rodgers declined to visit the school to instruct the children, Mrs James Macarthur (Emily) offered to catechise the Anglican children at the school.

In December 1849 the school building plans were presented to the Board and accepted. A school consisting of three rooms and verandah was to be built.  The board also suggested an amended scale of fees:

Scale of fees

per week

 per quarter

One child 

5d

 5/5

Two children

 4d

4/4

Three children

 3d

3/3

Four children

 2d

2/2

At this time it was suggested that Mr Elder be paid 50 pounds as the school enrolments had increased. In June 1850 he was paid 45 pounds and by 1851 he was paid 60 pounds.

The school buildings were completed in 1851 with extra funding from the National board, money raised locally and donations from the Macarthurs.

In 1852 126 children were enrolled and 86 to 103 were in ordinary attendance.  Attendance varied due to poor roads and in bad weather children were unable to attend.  Stationery, pens, ink slate pencils and slates were all provided by and paid for by the teacher at a cost of about 5 pounds per quarter.

Mr Elder died in December 1853 and he was very much missed by the patrons and all connected with the school.

Books used at Camden National School in 1851

  • 1st and 2nd reading book
  • Sequel to 2nd reading book
  • 3rd and 4th Reading book
  • Old and new Scripture books 1and 2
  • First Arithmetic
  • English Grammar (published by Commissioners of Ireland)
  • Sullivan's English Grammar
  • Arithmetic in Theory and practice.

From 1854-57  Matthew and Hannah Smith took over the school.  With the competition from the Church of England School near St John's Church and Smith's lack of popularity, the school declined.  The National School, being non-denominational was shunned by many Anglicans who thought of it as being "godless".  The school had the great support of the Macarthur family.Matthew Smith and his replacement Edward Butterfield  from 1857-8 were not thought very highly of, and were dismissed.

John James was master at the school from 1858 –9  and  the school was enlarged to take on infants and another teacher, Elizabeth Banks, was appointed. A scandal arose when Mrs James made allegations about the relationship between Mr James and Miss Banks, and Mr James left.

In 1859 a report on the school stated that the ages of the scholars ranged from 2-15 years and that the average period of attendance was 5 years. The hours attended were 9am –4pm with a fortnight's holiday at Christmas and one week at Easter. 

John Poole Ollis  was the next master from 1860-65 and for a time he instilled a sense of stability back into the school.  He believed in teaching the children with Australian school books, not British, and was extreme in his moral beliefs. He was dismissed in August 1865 as a result of his involvement in public meetings and his religious and political activities.

In 1876 there were extensive alterations and improvements to the school at a cost of 800 pounds which was a considerable sum in those days.

In 1878 the closure of the Church of England school in Camden boosted the attendance at the school to 134.

In 1879 improvements were carried out at the school at a cost of 310 pounds.

In 1892 the local inspector of schools drew attention to the fact that there was a need to improve the lighting at the school and increase its size. The minister approved the alterations and an additional classroom was erected by Mr F. Lemm for 670 pounds.

By 1906 the local Municipal Council urged the erection of a new school building to replace the old one which had become unsuitable and very much in need of repair. The minister for Education approved the proposal of urgent repairs (at a cost of 70 pounds) and plans were made for the new school building.

1909 - New Building

The original school building was pulled down to make way for the new school building which was opened on 12th October 1909 by Hon. J. A. Hogue Minister for Education .

The Camden News of October 14, 1909 reported :"The new building is single storey of modern design, containing four classrooms which can be used separately or each pair of modern rooms can be thrown into one by opening the partitions between them. There is also a wide corridor, teacher's room, hat room, lavatory and wide – paved verandah. Light and ventilation have been carefully studied- the windows being on the left of the student."  The building was able to hold 200 students, and at that time there were 192 enrolled with an average daily attendance of 150 pupils. A report of 1909 states that "One room has been fitted up for infants with the surfaces of the walls prepared for free arm drawing.  Patent blackboard surfaces have been provided in the other rooms, and there is a heating stove and cupboard in each room. The whole of the walls inside have been rendered smooth with cement, and wood finishings reduced as much as possible to minimise lodgements of dust.  The exterior is of simple design relieved with rough-cast gables and chimneys, the walls being cavity construction on concrete foundations whilst the roofs are covered with iron."

In his speech the Minister assured the female students that those girls who attended their lessons and received a good education and also learned to cook dinner or iron a shirt were the most likely to find a husband!

The new building cost 1716/3/9 pounds and was erected by Messrs Hindes & Farrendon – Camden contractors.

In the early 1900's the school became known as Camden Superior Public School as it had some senior classes as well.

The name of the school changed yet again in 1944 when it became known as Camden Central School.

The school in 1948

In 1948 it is noted that there existed an acute shortage of accommodation at Camden Central School. The classrooms at that time consisted of 4 in the main building, six in temporary rooms and one in the old premises. The plans for the new school buildings completed in 1956 were under consideration at this time with the Dept of Education.

In 1948, 90 of the 125 children in the district who were receiving secondary education as far as the Intermediate Certificate were enrolled at Camden Central School. The remaining 35 were enrolled in outlying schools and were educated by the "leaflet "form of education and by correspondence to the Correspondence school in Sydney. The secondary education was limited in curriculum and subjects such as French were studied by correspondence.

To proceed to the leaving Certificate, children had to go to boarding school or travel daily to the high school at Homebush leaving at 6.56 am and returning at 6.28pm.

In 1948 there was a school bus from The Oaks to Camden and a private bus from Camden Park Estate

P&C Assoc in 1948 :

Pres:  Mr Sidman
Sec :  Mr Adams
Headmaster:  Mr Anderson

340 financial members that met monthly at the CWA rooms on the last Thursday of the month

Junior Farmers organised by Mr Broadfoot at the school.  Captain: Peter Andrews 3rd year student at the school.

1956 - New school buildings

On 18th February 1955 Hon. R.J. Heffron M.L.A.. laid the foundation stone for the two new school buildings that were being built on opposite sides of John Street. One being the new high school and the other the primary.

In 1956 the school buildings of 1909 were replaced by a modern brick building built by A.F. Little Pty Ltd  ( the school as we know it today.)  The new building was made from Narellan bricks and cost 135,000 pounds. It comprised 11 general classrooms including one large kindergarten room, an assembly hall, library, office and staff facilities, general hat rooms and storerooms.  Also built at the time were a food preparation unit, shelter shed, and toilets.

The new school buildings were opened on October 12th 1956 by the Hon. R.J. Heffron Premier of NSW.  

The school's name was changed back to Camden Public School as it had been in 1867 as the new Camden High School was opened at the same time and therefore Camden Public School was solely a primary school.

In 1956 there were 10 teachers and 416 pupils.

In the fifties the Parent's and Citizen's assoc was very hard working. Through their efforts the school had acquired a 16mm motion picture projector, a 35mm projector, a public address system with extension speakers and a portable sewing machine.

Information taken from Whiteman booklet 1948 "Camden A Social Survey" Dept of Social Studies Syd Uni, at request of Camden Rotary Club and Camden Community Centre.

 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF ATTENDANCE

YEAR

ENROLMENT

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

1850

112

 

1860

57

49

1870

75

49.8

1880

163

91

1890

188

128.3

1900

217

163.3

1909

192

149.9

 

NAME CHANGES OF CAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOL

1849 - 1866

Camden National School

1867 – 1902     

Camden Public School

1902 -  1931

Camden Superior Public School  (1943) ??

1931 – 1944   

Camden Public  (Superior name dropped but still would have had some senior classes, but not enough to be classified as one)

1944  -1955    

Camden Central School

1956 – Today  

Camden Public School

 

 

 

 For information email Camden-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au  
or contact Department of Education and Training