Page 228 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

251.

MOUNT \HLLS SCHOOL

is not known. However, in the 1870 Department of Public Instruction
Annual Report, in the section headed ''Inspectorial School Visits", Inspector
Thomas Dwyer gives this account of his visit to the Mount Wills School:-

"MOUNT WILLS SCHOOL visited on 5th August 1870. In
attendance were nine (9) boys and
eleven (11) girls. The original
early Mount Wills School is now
disused and the new building is
fair, but the furniture is still
awkward and unsuitable. Both
teacher and pupils were unpunctual.
Instruction was very inefficient
and the proficiency of the pupils
fror:: bad to very bad".

On 1st October 1872, La·..,yence Kenny was replaced by Ellen Kenny.

The 1873 Annual Report o: the Department of Public Instruction
advises that Mount Wills School was of 'Provisional School' status.
Further, that the school had an enrolment of fiv~ (5) boys and thirteen
(13) girls. A; new District Inspector, J.S. Jones had taken over the
Maitland area on ls t January 1873. In hb report of his School In spec tori al
visits he states:-

"MOUNT WILLS SCHOOL visi :ed on 4th September 1873. In
attendance were two (2) boys and ten
(10) girls. Schoolroom is suitable
but encumbered with chapel furniture.
It urgently needs a book press, hat
pe6S, a clock, a water tank and
lav.::.:::iries. The teacher is earnest
and a~propriate. The proficiency of
the ;:;upils is moderate".