Series 003: Class Rolls of the Sydney Morning Herald - Fairfax School, 1921-1947

MLMSS 9894/Box 11X

series

1921-1947

9593486

0.04 metres of textual material (1 outsize box)

The SMH (Sydney Morning Herald) School was established in January 1921. The role of the school was to broaden the education of young men taken on as apprentices. By 1924 the school appears to have been known as John Fairfax and Sons Ltd School.
By 1929 the School was also known as the 'Instruction Department'. In 1944 the headmaster reported that the school had moved to the room next to the lads’ tearoom . The school then consisted of two groups (classes) plus a messenger group. The pupils were taught a range of subjects to complement their apprenticeship studies. Popular choices included the history of religion, social history of England, modern scientific developments and Shakespeare.
Fragments with the records suggest that lunchtime lectures debates and discussions available to all of the staff were conducted by the Headmaster. The variety of topics included 'Speech, tools and weapons, fire'; 'Man and animal'; 'The evolution of food, of implements, of clothing and the dwelling place'; 'Labour organization'; 'The causes of progress'; 'The modern women's movement'; Culture and happiness'.
Amongst the school records are evidence that examinations were held bi-annually for cadet reporters. Examinations were on English grammar and Shakespeare and they were encouraged to follow a 'Course in directed reading'.
A total of 426 students passed through the formal classes in the twenty six years of its existence. It appears that the school closed on 3 March 1947.
From the REA Newsletter No.16, June 1983 profile on John (Jack) Mclean (Photo engraver) "Jacks happiest memories of his Herald days are obviously of attending the Herald School. It was compulsory for every journalist to attend the school for one hour a day until the reached 21."

The roll recorded the attendance of the young men enrolled in the Sydney Morning Herald - Fairfax School. The details consist of: the pupil's surname - later surname and initials (divided into the class in which they were placed) ; the Department in which they were employed; from September 1930 apprentices' birth dates were added in the column headed 'present address'. Next to the pupil's name the teacher also noted matters such as the days of the week an apprentice attended and the date of leaving the school and a daily record of attendances
Loose papers within some volumes in this series indicate the role of the teacher and the school including rough workings of the percentage of attendances and list of apprentices in the composing room - with the dates of indenture and termination (inside file 3) and notifications of lunchtime talks, debates and discussions, lecture notes, a list of messenger boys at 24 January 1947 and undated list of library books (inside file 5)

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Original Fairfax Series Number 6