Page 269 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

292.

OAKVALE PUBLIC SCHOOL

prepared to lease for a . nominal rent.

The teacher who formed the school is William Byron
Steinbeck. He is nineteen (19) years of age and is of
good address. He is moderately qualified and appears to
be studiously inclined.

I expect the school enrolment could attain forty
(40) pupils, 20 boys and 20 girls.

I recommend that this Oakvale School be recognized.
Secondly, I recommend that W. Steinbeck be appoint_ed the
teacher, at a salary of £48.0.0. ($96.00) per annum".

The Council of Public Instruction accepted their Inspector Dwyer's recommendation
and the local Oakvale Committee was so advised in November 1870. A supply
of school materials, including slates, books, map, etc. were forwarded to
Oakvale School on 3rd December 1870.

On Monday 10th July 1871, Inspector J.D. Bradley paid a visit to the
Oakvale School and found a great deal of neglect and inefficiency in Teacher
William Steinbeck's work. In addition, in his examination of the Oakvale
School records, Inspector Bradley found evidence of malpractice in the School
Rolls and Attendance Book, upon which some degree was made for the basis of
the teacher's salary. Some school fees collected had not been forwarded to
the Council of Public Instruction. On receipt of this adverse report, Teacher
W. Steinbeck was dismissed and the Oakvale School closed :

A petition from the local residents forwarded by James Cox, requested
that the services of William Steinbeck be retained and that he be given another
chance. William Steinbeck himself sent a lengthy, humble, pleading letter
to the Council, admitting some errors and seeking the Council's leniency and
offering promises to amend his actions, methods and ways. Perh~~s his letter
helped influence the Council of Public Instruction to agree to the residents'
request. · In any case, W. Steinbeck was reinstated in October 1871 on the