Schools

[1859] KANGAROO ISLAND. The Secretary stated that a school was being formed at this place, that a teacher had collected about 16 pupils, and intended shortly to apply for a licence. 

[1870]  A memorial was received from the parents of children attending the Kangaroo Island school, asking the Board to allow the school to be closed at 2.30 p.m. It was opened at 9 with an interval of 20 minutes for lunch, and the alteration would allow the children to get home, where their services were indispensable, and would prevent the necessity of keeping them from school. Allowed.

[1870]  The Rev. C. W. Morse reported having examined the children attending S. Carter's school, Hog Bay. The progress was satisfactory, and the discipline excellent. The attendance, except during the heavy rains, was very regular. The inhabitants were just putting a roof on a schoolhouse and teacher's residence which they had built. The room was 27 feet by 12 feet, and the house 27 feet by 15 feet in the clear. He believed that according to the regulations they were not entitled to a grant in aid, but suggested that, considering special circumstances, the Board should grant some help. He had also examined R. Newton's schools, at Kingscote and Cygnet River; both were exceedingly satisfactory, and the parents were well satisfied with the management and the quality of instruction. Owing to the scattered population at this end of the island, Mr. Newton taught four days each week at Kingscote, where there were 19 children, and the remaining two at Mr. Daw's Station, where 11 children attended. Nearly midway Miss Johnstone, assistant teacher, kept a branch. There were altogether 37 pupils on the roll. The writer recommended Mr. Newton for a licence from March 15, when he began. The branch school was commenced on May 8. The settlers at Kingscote purposed beginning a schoolhouse and teacher's residence almost immediately, and he hoped it would be finished by Christmas. He thanked the Board for their previous kindness, remarking that 60 or 70 children were now being educated where previously there was no school. The Trustees of Hog Bay School asked for help to complete the building. Their means were very limited, and the room was almost entirely built by parents of children attending. The Board expressed their regret that by the regulations they were unable to grant any subsidy for a room of that size, but expressed a willingness to issue a licence for Kingscote and Cygnet River.

OFFICIAL VISIT TO KANGAROO ISLAND.

1874 —It appears that Dr. Jung is the first Inspector of Schools who has visited Kangaroo Island. On arriving there lately he was waited upon by inhabitants of Kingscote and Cygnet River, who asked for the establishment of a school. The Inspector during a rapid tour on horseback over a large portion of the Island found a suitable person to fill the position of master. The islanders were much pleased to see him, and seem to be anxious about the education of their children. 

The statement made some time since in the Illustrated London News that three women and one man, whose portraits were given, were the last surviving specimens of the Tasmanian aboriginal natives, is incorrect, as Dr. Jung found two women of this race on Kangaroo Island. They were brought there by a trader from Van Diemen's Land, and afterwards decoyed and carried away to Mauritius, whence the governing powers on hearing the facts of the case sent them back to the Island. These two lubras may be considered the remnant of the Tasmanian natives. They keep in the bush as much as possible, are very shy, and as soon as noticed by strangers shift their camp. 

[1884] The need of schools is greatly felt by the inhabitants of the Island numbering over 600 and rapidly increasing, for whom only one school is provided at Penneshaw. The rising generation are growing up in sad ignorance, to remedy which the establishment of day schools will do much provided compulsory education is enforced, and if the education be made free, instead of 35 days being the number of days per quarter demanded'for the attendance of the children at least four days a week should be the number onforced some in case of sickness as it is really almost criminal to see the care taken by parents to see that their children do not attend more than 35 days per quarter keeping them at work in and out, during which time the children forget nearly all they learned while at school. Some parents seem to realise little of the responsibility they incur by undertaking the parentage of human beings, "but as it was in the beginning, so it will be for ever and ever world without end,"—I won't say amen, for the scribe who would for such a state, of things to continue, should never take a pen in hand again. However if only by little may the ignorance grow less and the elevation of the masses—as Matthew Burnett would say—become one spoke in the wheel of perpetual motion.

Island Schools.

[1923] The teachers of the public schools on K.I. and the average attendance is given in the Educational Gazette as under :— Kingscote, Mr Clyde H. Pearce (Head Teacher), Miss Annie Lipert (Assistant), average attendance 60.2; Hog Bay, Mr John Murphy, 32.1 ; Cygnet River, Mr Lewis H. Moar, 21.4 ; Shoal Bay, Miss Doreen Brown, 15.5 ; Emu Bay, Miss Annie Norton ; 15.3 ; Wisanger, Miss Edith Leahy, 11.7; Muston, Edwin W. H. Jaensch, 11,4 ; American River, Miss Minneta Ford, 10.0 ; Wattle Grange, Miss Una Underwood, 7.0. 

Comment from Geoffrey Chapman:

"I noticed some inaccuracies  in Chris Ward's article on KI schools in the KIPA and have attached my file on KI schools which I have researched for at least 10 years . Hope this helps  - I have plenty of references to back up everything.

I have no knowledge or records of a school at Brownlow which is about 3 km west of Kingscote - everyone walked or rode a horse!  I lived at Brownlow from the time I was 4 until I was about 11 years and walked each day to school for at 4 years.

At that time there was only  6 buildings there and two ruins. One of the ruins was called " the manor" which was near the rifle ranges just east of Tiggemann's and the other ruin was opposite Tiggemann's- I cant remember the names of the families that lived there

I think the Brownlow Centre has nothing to do with KI.

I went to the Parndana Primary school in the 1950's and are classes were in the open tin shelter shed - Joe Giesler was the second teacher [my brother in law]. When I left to go to the Kingscote area school all the wooden buildings were transported to the new Parndana Area School ..."

School Appointments.

[1951] The following Teachers have been appointed by the Education Dept. to schools on Kangaroo Island:— Kingscote Area school, Mr A. L B. Gibbs, Head Master and Mr K. D. McDonald, Science Teacher Parndana, Mr K. J. Keane Middle River, Mr E. Wiltshire Penneshaw, Mr K. Wachtel. All but Mr Wachtel have taken up their appointments. Mr F. W Tiggemann is relieving Mr Wachtel pending him recovering from illness.