Page 198 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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MI L L F I E L D S C H 0 0 L

School.

At the end of 1868, the school enrolment was 36 pupils, but
these only had a daily average attendance of 22. Under the "Public School
Act of 1866 11 , a Provisional School could be raised to the status of a
full 'Public School' if the daily attendance was 25. In 1870, Inspector
Thomas Dwyer reported to his superiors that the daily average attendance
over the previous three months had been 33 and that Millfield School was
now eligible to be declared a 'Public School'.

This caused a controversy at Millfield. Rev. B. Shaw and his
supporters sought to have Millfield School again revert to an Anglican
Denominational School because enrolment numbers were now sufficiently
high to attract the State Denominational School Financial Assistance.
The teacher, Mr. W. Burnage, and a section of local residents wanted the
school to become a full public school. Inspector Dwyer and the Council
of Education supported Mr. Burnage and his group. Mr. Burnage's salary
was set at £48.0.0. ($96.00) per annum.

Rev. B. Shaw, because of his desire and determination to restore
the Anglican Denominational School, refused to continue to lease the building
used for the 'Provisional' school. As a result, the new 'Public School'
on 1st January 1871, had to move to a slab structure which had a bark
roof. It was a building thirty (30) feet by sixteen (16) feet and had
been rented from Alexander Crothers, a Miller. The original rental was
for a six (6) month period and was not to be renewed. .However, after
a good deal of persuasion Mr. A. Crothers agreed to renew the rental until
alternative premises could be rented.

Two small cottages were rented on 1st October 1871, to replace
Mr. Crother's building. One was to be used as the school, the other
as the teacher's residence.

Meanwhile, Rev. B. Shaw opened an opposition school in the old
'Provisional' schoolhouse. Indeed, he was somewhat reluctant to even