The following is courtesy of the GLAMORGAN RECORD OFFICE, Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NE www.llgc.org.uk/cac/ E-mail: GlamRO@Cardiff.ac.uk

R U L E S  FOR  THE MANAGEMENT

Of the

SOUTH WALES and MONMOUTHSHIRE CERTIFIED TRUANT INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

Merthyr Tydfil.

 NAME

1. The School shall be known as the SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE TRUANT AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL and is situate at Quakers’ Yard, in the Parish of Merthyr Tydfil, the County of Glamorgan.

 OBJECT          

2. The object of the School is to teach the truant boys of the district they cannot be allowed to persist in their truancy, and to provide suitable instruction and industrial training for, and to lodge, feed and clothe, persistently Truant boys who may be committed by order to Two Justices of the Peace, or By a Stipendiary Magistrate, under the Elementary Education Act, 1876.

 MANAGEMENT            

3. The School shall be under the joint management of the School Boards for Merthyr Tydfil, Bedwellty, Ystradyfodwg, Aberdare, Aberystruth, Llanwonno, Llantwit Fardre, Llanelly (Breconshire) Llangynider, Llantrisant, Eglwysilan (hereinafter called “The Boards”),

or of a Committee appointed by the aforenamed Boards such Committee (hereinafter called “The Committee”) to consist of not fewer than 20 Members (five of whom shall form a quorum) in the following proportion, viz:- Merthyr Tydfil, 3;: Bedwellty, 3;: Ystradyfodwg, 3;: Aberdare, 2; Aberystruth, 2; Llanwonno, 2;: Llantwit Fardre, 1; Llanelly (Breconshire), 2;, Llangynider, 1; Llantrisant, 1;Eglwysilan, 1.

 HOUSE COMMITTEE    

4. The Committee shall appoint a House and Finance Committee, whose duty it shall be to visit the School not less than once a month, such House and Finance Committee to be either Members of the Committee or Boards, or the Clerks, or other responsible officers of the Board, three to form a quorum.

 ACCOMMODATION

5. The School is to afford accommodation for 90 boys

SEPARATE BEDS

6. The Inmates shall have separate beds, and shall be supplied with a sufficiency of plain, useful clothing.

ADMISSION OF BOYS

7. No child shall be admitted to the School who is under eight or over fourteen years of age, or who is by mental or physical infirmity from benefiting by detention in the School.

8. Prior to the admission of a child into the School, a medical certificate shall be required setting forth his fitness.

CLOTHING

9. The children shall, during their stay in the School, be supplied with clothing, not necessarily uniform either in material or colour; and their own clothing shall be cleaned and put away, so that it may be returned to them at the time of their leaving, or in the event of their being licensed to live out of the School.

DIETARY

10. The children shall be supplied with plain, wholesome food, according to a dietary to be approved by the Inspector.  No substantial alteration in the dietary shall be made without previous notice to him.  A copy of the dietary shall be hung in the dining-room.  It shall be carefully adhered to, and all deviations from it recorded.

 INSTRUCTION

11. The Secular Instruction shall consist of Reading, Spelling, Writing, and Arithmetic, and, as far as practicable, the Elements of History, Geography, and Vocal Music.  It shall be given for at least three hours daily.  The Industrial training shall be Garden Work, House Work, or such handicrafts as can be conveniently practised.  The Industrial employment of the Inmates shall not, as a general rule, exceed five or fall short of four hours daily.

 RELIGIOUS EXCERCISES

12. Each day shall be begun and ended with simple family worship, consisting of Prayer and Praise to God, and the Reading of Scripture.  The Religious Instruction shall be governed by the following Rule: -

The ordinary Religious Instruction and Observances shall

Consist of Prayers and Hymns and Reading from the Bible, with such explanations and instructions in the Principles of Religion and Morality as are suited to the capacity of Children; and in the Selection of such Prayers and Hymns, and in Explanations and Instructions from the Bible, no attempt shall be made to attach Children to, or detach them from, any particular Denomination.

No Child shall be required to attend any Religious Instruction or Observance, or be taught the Catechism or Tenets of any Religion to which his Parents or Guardians object, or other than that to which he is stated in the Order of Detention to belong.  With regard to the Children who are specified in the Order of Detention as belonging to any particular Religious Persuasion the Managers shall, as far as practicable, make arrangements that such Children shall, during the times set apart for Religious Instruction, attend Religious Instruction or Observances conducted by the Ministers of such persuasions, or by such responsible Teachers of the School or other Persons as are delegated by such Ministers with the approval of the Managers.

While any Religious Instruction or Observance is going on, none of the Scholars or Teachers shall be employed in any other manner in the same room.

 On Sunday the Inmates shall, if possible, attend Public Worship at some convenient Church or Chapel, provided that no Boy shall be taken to any Church or Chapel to which his Parents or Guardians object on the ground that its Religious Services are not in accordance with the Religious Persuasion of the Child, or with that Religious Persuasion to which he is stated in the Order of Detention to belong.

TIME TABLE

13. A Time-Table, showing the Hours of Rising, Work, School Instruction, Meals, Recreation, Retiring, & c., &c., shall be drawn up, be submitted to and approved by the Inspector of Industrial Schools, and shall be fixed in the Schoolroom and carefully adhered to on all occasions.  All deviations from it shall be recorded.

DISCIPLINE

14. The maximum periods for which children as a general rule may be detained are as follows: -

                         In the first instance for three months

 In the second instance for four months

 In the third instance for six months.

 If necessary again to re-admit a Boy for a further period of detention, in no case shall be period exceed six months.

But if the detention of any Child exceeds in the first instance two months, and in the second and third three and four months, the case shall be specially reported to the Inspector at the end of the Quarter with an explanation.

No boy shall be detained after 14 years of age.

Any Boy shall be liable to punishment in case of misconduct or breach of rule.  All faults and punishments whatever shall be carefully recorded, and entered in a book kept for the purpose.  This Book shall be laid before the Committee of Managers at their meetings, and shall be open to the Inspector when called for by him.  The Discipline of the School shall be maintained not only by punishment, but by well-considered system of Encouragements, such system to form part of the Supplementary Rule to be made by the Managers, and to be approved by the Secretary of State.  All Rules immediately affecting the Inmates shall be fully made known to them, and be placed in a conspicuous place in the Schoolroom or elsewhere for this object.

 PUNISHMENTS

15. No other punishments than the following are allowed: -

(A)                Forfeiture or privileges, or degradation from rank, previously attained by good conduct

(B)                Reduction in quantity, or change of character of food

(C)                Confinement in a light room, or light cell.

(D)                Moderate personal correction and chastisement.

Referring to (A), (B), and (C).  No punishment under any of these heads may be given except by the Superintendent.

Referring to (A).  The Supplementary Rules shall state clearly what offences constitute a breach of law, with the accompanying penalties.

The regulations as to be degradation shall also be inserted in the Supplementary Rules.

Referring to (B).  For simple offences the Boy may be deprived of that portion of the meal which renders it most agreeable, but shall be allowed a substantial quantity of food sufficient for his wants.  No Boy shall be deprived of two meals in succession.

Referring to (C).  No boy shall be confined under any pretext whatever for a longer period than 48 hours, and never after dark.  No boy shall be kept in solitary confinement in darkness under any pretence whatever.  In confinement each Boy shall be allowed one pound of bread, with gruel, cheese, or milk and water daily.

The use of the cell on admission as a method of discipline is entirely prohibited.

            Referring to (D), the following regulations shall apply:

                                                               i.      For most serious offences the punishment of whipping may be inflicted on the posterior with a birch road, such punishment not to exceed six strokes, to be applied once for all, for the same offence, and to be inflicted only by the Superintendent himself, or in his presence by an officer specially authorised by him.  Offences requiring graver penalties shall be dealt with by the Magistrates of the district in which the school is situated.

                                                             ii.      For minor offences personal punishment may be inflicted with a tawse of the authorized pattern, to be applied to the palm of the hand, and shall not exceed four strokes.  Punishment on admission or on re-admission is prohibited.

RECREATION

16. The Inmates shall, as a rule, be allowed two hours daily for recreation and exercise (one hour being absolutely devoted to recreation).  They may be taken out for exercise from time to time beyond the boundaries of the School.

PRIVILEGES OF FRIENDS

17. The parents and near relatives of the Inmates shall be allowed to correspond with them at reasonable times, and to visit them once a month, during the first detention; but in cases of re-admission, this privilege may be restricted according to the judgment of the Managers.  Except in special cases where the express permission of the Managers has been obtained, parents will not be allowed to visit their children if any members of the family or other persons in the house in which the Parents reside are suffering from infectious disease.  This privilege may also be forfeited by misconduct or interference with the discipline of the School.  A record or each such forfeiture shall be made in the Journal.  In the case of the serious illness of any Inmates, or of his removal from the School by licence or legal discharge, notice shall be sent to the parents.

MEDICAL OFFICER

18. A Medical Officer shall be appointed to visit the School periodically.  He shall enter his visits in a book kept for that purpose, with a note of all serious cases of illness attended by him in the School, their course, duration, and the treatment prescribed.  He shall also give a quarterly report as to the sanitary condition of the School.  Application should be made to the Secretary of State for the discharge of any Inmate certified as medically unfit for detention.

INQUESTS

19. In the case of the sudden or violent death of any Inmate of the School, immediate notice shall be sent to the Coroner of the District in which the School is situated, and the circumstances of the case at once reported to the Inspector.

VISITORS

20. The School shall be open to the Inspection of Visitors at convenient times, to be regulated by the Managers.

JOURNAL

21. The Superintendent shall keep a Journal of all that passes in the School.  All admissions, licences, discharges, and every event of importance connected with the School shall be recorded in it.  The Journal shall be laid before the Managers at their meetings, and be open to the Inspector when called for.

REGISTER, RETURNS, &C.

22. The Superintendent shall keep a Register of Admissions, with particulars of the parentage, previous circumstances, &c., of each of the Inmates.

 He shall also keep a Licence and Discharge Book, showing the date of the licence and discharge of each Inmate, and shall keep a record of the attendance of the children at the Elementary School when absent on licence.

 He shall also regularly send to the office of the Inspect the Returns of Admissions, and immediately report cases of re-admissions; the Monthly Return of Admissions, Re-admissions, Licences, Discharges, as required by Note 2 (A and B), &C, Quarterly List of Cases under Detention, and Quarterly Accounts for maintenance; Quarterly Report of Sanitary State of School and Health of Inmates; Quarterly Return of Offences and Punishments; and in the month of January in each year, a full Statement of the Receipts and Expenditure of the School for the past year showing all debts and liabilities duly vouched by the Managers, in accordance with Note 2 (C).

INSPECTOR

23. The Inmates shall be examined and their proficiency in School Instruction and Industrial training tested from time to time, and at least once a year, by the Inspector.  All books and journals of the School shall be examined by him if he think it necessary.  Immediate notice shall be given to him of the appointment, death, resignation, or dismissal of the Superintendent and of the School Teacher.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

24. The Officers and Teachers of the School shall be careful to maintain the discipline and order of the School and to attend to the Instruction and training of the Inmates in conformity with the above Rules.  Every Inmate under detention in the School shall be required to obey the Officers and Teachers of the School, and to comply with the Rules in force; any wilful neglect or refusal to obey or comply on the part of any such Inmate may be deemed to be an offence under the 32^nd Section of the Industrial Schools Act 1866; absconding or inducing to abscond an offence under the 33^rd and 34^th Section of the said Act respectively.  The authorised number of Inmates must be strictly adhered to, and no fresh admission accepted when this is attained.

SUPPLEMENTARY RULES OF THE MANAGERS FOR THE

REGULATION OF THE SCHOOL

25. Any Boy whose Parents specially desire it, and signify such desire in writing the Superintendent, may be visited by a Clergyman or Minister of the Particular Denomination to which he belongs between the hours of four and five o’clock p.m. on Tuesday in each week, as well as on Sundays, or at such other times as may from time to time be fixed by the Secretary of State.

 ACCOUNTS, &c.

26. The Superintendent shall keep a Stock and Stores’ Book, and such other account books as may be prescribed by the Local Government Board; also a book in which shall be kept copies of all regulations, minutes, and directions of the Committee affecting the management of the School, or the control of the officers thereof.

 GIFTS & MONEY

27. No Boy shall be allowed to have money in his possession during his detention in the School, nor shall any child be permitted to receive books, eatables, or any gifts without the consent of the Superintendent.

 LETTERS

28. The Superintendent shall be authorised to open all letters addressed to children under detention, and to withhold any sent or received which he may consider improper, but any letters so withheld shall be forthwith forwarded to the Secretary of the Committee.

29. A Visitors’ Book shall be provided, in which all persons who visit the School shall be requested to write their names, with the time of their visit, and any remarks they may deem proper.

 APPOINTMENT, DISCHARGE & SUSPENSION OF OFFICERS

30. The appointment and discharge of Officers shall rest solely with the Committee, but the Superintendent shall have power to suspend for misconduct any officer subordinate to him until he can report such misconduct.

 SUPERINTENDENT

31. The Superintendent shall reside in the building, and shall be held responsible for the good management of the School in all respects, and for the due performance by the other officers (who shall be under his direction) of the various duties assigned to them; also for the quality and quantities of all supplies, and for their proper and economical use.

 NO GRATUITIES ALLOWED

32. No officer shall receive any gratuities from the boys, their friends, trades people, or any other person on pain of immediate dismissal.

 VISITS TO SCHOOL

33. Members of any of the Associated Boards and any of their authorised officers, as well as the committee, shall have the privilege of visiting and inspecting the School, and of examining its books at any convenient time, and the School shall be open to the inspection of Visitors other than members or authorised officers of the several Boards on the written order of one of the Committee, or of the Secretary.

 ALTERATIONS OF RULES

34. These rules and regulations shall not be added to, nor repealed, or altered, either wholly or in part, except at a meeting of the Committee convened by a notice stating the business, and sent in accordance with the business regulations of the Committee for the time being in force, and any such addition, repeal, or alteration must receive the consent of the Secretary of State.

 Note 1.

Under the regulations now in force the allowance from the Treasury for the maintenance and training of Children in Truant Industrial Schools is that for children whose cases fall under Section 11 (I) of the Elementary Education Act, 1876, viz., 2 shillings per head per week, no grant being allowed for children under 6 years of age.  This allowance must be supplemented by a grant in aid from the county, borough, or School Board authority committing cases to the Schools.

Note 2.

The Returns and Accounts required (Rule 14) are –

            Form A.                        Notice of each admission to the School.

            Form B.                        Monthly Return of Admissions, Re-admissions, Licences,

                                                Deaths, Discharges, Desertions, &c., for the preceding month.

            Form C.                        Quarterly Return of all Inmates chargeable for maintenance

                                                During the previous quarter.

            Quarterly Account of the sums due for the maintenance of the Children under

            Detention during the Quarter.

            Quarterly Report of the Sanitary State of the School and health of Inmates.

            Quarterly Returns of Offences and Punishments.

            Annual Return of Receipts and Expenditure.

Note 3.

In case of the Managers of any Industrial School desiring to resign their Certificate, the Industrial Schools Act requires that six months’ previous notice of such Resignation to be given to the Secretary of State (XLV.).

Note 4.

By II of the industrial Schools Act it is provided –

“That no substantial addition or alteration shall be made to or in the Buildings of any Certified Industrial School without the approval, in writing, of the Secretary of State”

 Note 5.

All communications for the Inspector’s Office should be addressed:

            To the Inspector of

                        Reformatory and Industrial Schools,

                                    Great Scotland Yard,

                                                London S.W.

N.B. – The postage on Letters, Returns &c., thuds addressed need not be prepaid.

                        W.L. DANIEL, Chairman of Committee.

                        E. STEPHENS, Secretary

5^th December, 1895

Exd. J.G. LEGGE.  24/1/96

            H.M.I. of Reformatory and Industrial Schools.

The foregoing Rules for the Management of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Certified Truant Industrial School, having been submitted to me, I hereby signify my approval thereof.

                        (Signed).           M.W. RIDLEY,

                                                One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State.

 Whitehall,

30^th January 1896

TIME TABLE

DIETARY

Suggest Rations for Staff per Week.

6lb of Meat each

Bread, ad.lib.

Tea 1/4lb., or Coffee.

Butter, 3/4lb

Sugar, 1lb.

Cheese, 1/2lb.

Salt, Pepper, &c. Vegetables, ad.lib.

SICK DIET UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE.

 CHILDREN

INGREDIENTS

OATMEAL PORRIDGE   - 2ozs. Of Oatmeal and ¼-pint of Milk per Boy

SOUP                           - 1oz. Of Peas and 1oz. Of Lentils; 3ozs. Of Vegetables and 3ozs of Bones and Meat per boy.

RICE DINNER                - 2ozs. Of Rice, ¼-pint of Milk, and 1/2oz of Sugar per boy.

COCOA                        - 1/2oz. Of Cocoa, and ¼-pint of Milk per boy.