Dens Road School 100 Years

The epidemic of measles in the Infant’s Department has spread during the past week. There are now over one hundred cases in the school.

Dundee is in the throes of a measles epidemic. The total number of infectious cases notified during the past month was 1399, and of these no fewer than 1124 were cases of measles. During the previous month there were 431 cases of measles, and it is remarkable to find that in March 1929 there was not a single notification of measles.
‘Dundee By Gone Years April 1930’ Dundee City Council

Friday Oct 26th will be a holiday in honour of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, to open the Caird Hall. Each pupil will receive a box of chocolate and a flag – the gifts of the corporation.

“Sir James Caird who amassed a fortune through the jute trade in Dundee donated up to £100,00 for a new City Hall and Council Chamber. King George V & Queen Mary laid the foundation stone in 1914 by electric button press control from Caird’s Ashton Works. The electric buttons were formed from large pieces of Emerald and Jade. The Emerald, of 271 carats in weight, and one of the largest in the world, was presented to the King as a gift. The gem was later handed back and became incorporated into the Lord Provost’s Chain of Office.”

Souvenir Brochure of opening of Caird Hall, 26th October 1923

“Soon after the foundation stone had been laid, building work came to a halt because of the First World War, and it was not until 1923 that work was finally completed. The building, designed by city architect James Thomson, is constructed on a reinforced concrete framework. The ten doric columns facing City Square are each four feet in diameter and thirty-two feet high.

 http://www.cairdhall.co.uk/history/

“A rather difficult case of discipline occurred today. A boy who had been insolent to his teacher refused to accept punishment and had to be forcibly chastised.

 A teacher’s leather belt (Tawse) used to punish children by hiiting them across the hand.

“Princess Mary’s wedding day. School Holiday.

The school was open to parents this afternoon from 1.30. About 600 parents visited. Handwork, drawing and sewing were exhibited and a programme of Music, Physical Drill, Games and Eurythmics was performed.

“Armistice Day.
In Accordance with the King’s desire all work was stopped at 11 prompt and scholars and teachers with bowed heads devoted two minutes to silent remembrance of our heroic dead”

Mr Charles Phillip ceased to be on the Staff as of today. Mr Phillip has joined the army.

13th November 1916 – A War Savings Association has been formed and operations began today.  66 members joined and £18-1/- was collected. 23 War Certificates@15/6 each were purchased.

31st August 1917 – School closed this afternoon in honour of Sir Baden Powell’s visit to the city.

10th May 1918 – All the Jute Mills are closed down for this week consequently there is a drop in the attendance of about 10%.

15th October 1918 – Several classes suffering from attack of Spanish Influenza. In some rooms attendance below 50%.

23rd October 1918  – Owing to prevalence of Influenza School closed indefinately by order of the school board.

18th November1918 – Work resumed today. Attendance 75%. Still numerous cases of Influenza.

6th December 1918 – Sent in to School Board a return giving the names of pupils in this school who had lost their fathers in the war. The return contained 56 names.

10th March 1919 – Mr Charles Phillip who has been on War Service rejoined the staff today. Mr Phillip joined the army on 1st June 1915.

‘In the summer of 1918 a severe form of influenza broke out and eventually killed 70 million people around the world. The virus killed far more people than did the fighting of 1914-18. Initially the symptoms were mild but by the summer up to a third of influenza sufferers reported serious symptoms, such as bronchial pneumonia and septicemic blood poisoning. A large number died quickly after the onset of symptoms because the virus caused an uncontrollable haemorrhaging that filled the lungs, and patients would drown in their own body fluids. The pandemic inevitably had military consequences but a far higher number of civilians died. The virus swept across German, Austro-Hungarian and Turkish battle lines before it reached France. By the Autumn of 1918 the virus had spread across the Atlantic to the U.S.A. carried by the returning American soldiers. Around 450,000 civilians died in the prosperous United States, the majority of them otherwise healthy people under the age of 40. In Britain some 228,000 civilian casualties died; 400,000 in Germany. Hardest hit however was India with a reported 16 million casualties alone. For reasons unknown, in mid-1919 the pandemic withered and died out.’
Article from SCRAN

Third parcel of work for troops made up, one outfit being posted direct. The list includes -: 14 pairs of socks, 6 belts, 3 scarves, 1 helmet, 4 pairs of cuffs and mitts, 3 pairs of stockings.
School did not meet on the afternoon of Tuesday, 17th November in preparation for school concert and sale in aid of War Relief Funds. The concerts and Variety Sale realised the sum of £111. 1 shilling  10d