| Description | Letter from Maggie Gray, Miss Pennycuick's, 26, High Street, GalashielsighHigh, to Robert Laws, regarding completing the school log book; attending the children's service in the Corn Exchange; a large attendance but the hall only half-filled; worries over discharging her own responsibilities to the children; best scholar is Mary Jamieson; another named Maggie Darling; disappointment at end of serial in paper; possibility of using Free Library; writing to Mary and mother about pupil teachers, etc.; getting a voucher signed by Mr. Milne, ironware merchant, to say she is a fit person to use the library; more time to read as few for the evening class; Mr. Coldwell teaches 30 young men in the evenings; the School Board had forgotten that Bridge Place School, where she teaches, is held in the Masonic Hall and that is busy in the evenings; she wants to keep busy and not think of herself, but this is a vanity; Mary volunteering to become her pupil teacher in order to become independent of brother Robert; Miss Milne teasing her about her writing; walking with her in the afternoon; beautiful surroundings on walk to Officer with account of absentees; Robert wishes Mary to go to the Normal School; Maggie will bring the case before the Board now that it is decided that her school will not be a Government one; Miss Shillington sitting exam for advancement which she is sure to pass but the Government will not pay her salary; 60 is the limit of pupils for one certified teacher and one pupil teacher and they have now a roll of 80 to 90; it might be better for the school and Miss Shillington if she moved elsewhere to work, perhaps in Mr. Coldwell's school, the Gala school, as Miss Milne is thinking of leaving; that might leave room for Mary; an inspection is due; lack of opportunity for her own examination in order to get her certificate; Mary does not like teaching and her pleasure is surprising; urging her to practise her music as it would improve her opportunities; wishing for independence for Amy, too; reflecting that they have been brought up in a hard school; Mary likely not to get into a Normal School without much more preparation; brother Robert is to be in Edinburgh to sit his exams and may come to Galashiels; preparing sewing for school; Robert's nomination for a bursary; comfortable situation; crowded prayer meetings; results of contemplating scriptural passage [last page may not fit with this letter]. |