|
Dunne
came from a family of staunch religious convictions - his brother in the
1890’s was to become the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst - and Dunne
was particularly harsh on ‘moral’ lapses in any of his pupils;
writing naughty words on the toilet wall earned one lad of eight years
‘six of the best’ on the hand; while a ‘lying’ child was
thoroughly strapped around the legs and bottom area. Generally parents
agreed with this punishment of their children, it was after all, little
different to what they themselves would administer. In 1906 when one
parent objected to the harshness of Dunne’s punishment there were
scores of other parents who sprang to Dunne’s defence to testify to
their complete confidence in his methods of teaching and discipline.
When
Dunne took up duties at Narrabri Railway Station Public School he was an
eligible young bachelor, though that status was not to last for long. As
the school had no residence and there were no private homes in which he
could board he was forced to lodge at the hotel. “At present”, he
wrote soon after arriving at the school, “I have to sleep in a rather
noisy hotel where there is often very little rest to be had; but when
the wool-season commences it will become unbearable”, Dunne’s
imagination came to his assistance and he suggested to the Department
that he would be happy to partition off the washroom end of the school
verandah, a small area about 9 by 6 feet, and use it as living quarters.
Inspector
Smith was almost scandalised and quickly reported: “There are two
Hotels close to the school, and if he does not like an Hotel (which is
likely enough) there are I am sure many houses in the vicinity where he
could obtain board and lodging”. Dunne must have decided to try the
other hotel as in April 1886 he was still living in one.
In
the meantime, in December 1885 he had married Rose Connors who twice a
week walked the two miles from the hotel in which they were living to
the school to give the girls lessons in sewing. Sewing lessons were
temporarily suspended when the Dunne’s first child, Mary was born in
April 1887. Fifteen years later she would join the staff of the school
that she had been educated in as a pupil-teacher under the watchful eye
of her father. A son, John, also became a pupil-teacher at the school
some years later in 1906 and transferred with his father in 1908 to
Katoomba.
Morgan
Dunne took up his final appointment at Lakemba in 1914 and stayed there
until his retirement in 1926: in his 44 years of teaching he had only
taught at 4 different schools. Because Dunne spent 24 years at Narrabri
West it might be assumed that he liked the place. This was undoubtedly
so, but if he had had his way his 24 year stint would have been much
reduced. After being at the school for less than 2 years he asked to be
transferred to another school with a teacher’s residence. His
inspector of schools considered that Dunne’s real motive for wanting
to leave Narrabri West was his objection to its climate; but the
inspector noted that he was “not aware of anything in favour of Mr
Dunne receiving special consideration”. Dunne made no further attempt
to leave Narrabri West for over ten years when, in 1897, he asked, quite
reasonably, for transfer to a coastal district He argued that the state
of his school showed he had been an efficient teacher. than the cost of
living was between a quarter and a third greater at Narrabri West than
on the coast, and that after 13 years of a harsh climate he deserved
sympathetic consideration. Henry Parkinson, his inspector, agreed: he
believed Dunne to be “one of the most efficient teachers in this
district”, and his request for a coastal school, near the metropolitan
area completely justified. Again no luck. In 1898 he applied explaining
that the opening of the convent school had seriously affected the school
and that he had come into conflict with some influential citizens over
the state of the Public School buildings. He concluded his letter with a
strong plea. “I have been stationed here since July 1884; I have had a
wretched school building, an inferior residence, and a most trying
climate to contend against I respectfully ask that these disadvantages
be taken into favourable consideration when the question of my removal
arises”. Once again his request was declined, as there was no coastal
school available. Somewhat resigned, Dunne settled down to endure
another 10 years at Narrabri West under conditions that were extremely
unpleasant but with just a hint of an improvement on the distant
horizon.
Growth
Pains
As
the average attendance at the end of 1884 had passed the necessary 50 to
qualify the school for an assistant teacher, Mice Barrack was appointed
in March 1887 to assist Dunne. Barrack was a pupil-teacher, that is, a
sort of apprentice to Dunne; during school hours she took the younger
pupils for lessons in the same classroom as Dunne and under his
supervision, while after school hours she was instructed by Dunne in
teaching method and subject content She was to remain at Narrabri West
School for the next four years until she finished her pupil-teacher
course.
So,
during 1885 and 1886 Dunne and Barrack together taught, in the same 33
by 16 foot room, a growing number of pupils. In October 1886 Dunne,
looking towards the hot days ahead, urged the Department of Education to
provide the extra space that had been promised months earlier. He
explained his plight:
The
average attendance for the week ending 15th Oct was 74, and for last
week 83. The air in the room at times is almost stifling and children
very often get sick. The number of children in attendance under the age
of six is about 10. Pending the erection of the authorised classroom,
it, would afford a certain amount of relief, if I had authority to
refuse admission to these (that is, the children under 6 years of age;
compulsory education only applied to children who were between the ages
of 6 and 14).
The
Inspector of schools appreciated that the climate of Narrabri during
summer was “exceptionally hot and oppressive”, but the Department
decided only to hurry up the provision of an additional classroom and to
leave the 6-year-olds in attendance.
The
provision of additional accommodation became more public when one of the
parents wrote to the Narrabri Herald to complain about the matter. His
letter is reproduced below:
Letter
to the Editor, “Narrabri Herald”, 19/11/1886
Sir,
-
May I be permitted a small space in your paper to place before
the residents of Dangar Village and Narrabri West a few remarks that
should particularly interest parents of both places. That is - “The
insufficient accommodation for children attending the Public School at
Narrabri West’.
Most
of the residents here are parents of large families, and in consequences
of the great distance to Narrabri, are compelled to send their children
to the school erected here, several children are also sent from Dangar
Village. owing to the popularity of the head-master (Mr. Dunne);
consequently the matter should interest the parents of the former named
place, equally with those of the latter.
The
Schoolhouse was erected for the accommodation of 50 pupils only,
whereas, lately, at several times, the attendance has exceeded
considerably over 90 pupils. Mr. Dunne has often been compelled to send
many home to protect as far as lay in his power, the health of the
children from the effect of such overcrowding.
In
a climate like ours, and seeing that the school hours extend through the
greatest heat of the day, it is a scandalous shame the little children
should be packed in such a disgraceful manner in so stifling an
atmosphere. What the gentlemen, forming the School Committee, can be
thinking of is hard to conceive, if they accept the honour of being
appointed on the committee, surely they should accept the responsibility
and take steps as would rectify the evil. Parents are daily complaining
of the faded and worn appearance of their little ones and of their
failing appetites which, without a doubt, is wholly attributable to the
close atmosphere they are obliged to inhale from being so overcrowded.
Should they keep them at home for a few days they are immediately
pounced upon by the Truant Inspector and render themselves liable to be
fined. In the name of humanity, let those whose duty it is take
immediate action in this urgent matter and not let the little ones
suffer from such gross neglect.
Apologising
for troubling you to such an extent, and thanking you for the kind
indulgence shown to me,
I
remain,
Yours
Sincerely,
A
FATHER
|
