Cork Model School, Descriptive List

Descriptive List of the Archive of Cork Model School- Introduction

appointed by the Board of National Education. The Royal Commission on Education (1868-1870) deemed that the model schools were an overly expensive method of teacher training and their use for this purpose ceased from about 1883 onwards, the model schools thereafter continuing to function as ordinary national schools. Following national independence in 1922, National Education Board functions were taken over by the Department of Education. The model schools admitted children of all denominations and social classes. However, in 1863, Catholic Church leaders banned Catholic pupils from attending, because of dissatisfaction with the religious instruction provided. Thus many model schools became Protestant in ethos, while in later years a number of others, including Cork, became Irish language schools (scoileanna lán ghaelige/gael scoileanna), teaching predominantly Catholic pupils. Notably, the registers and roll books record the attendance of a small number of pupils of the Jewish faith, whose families arrived in Cork, mainly in the 1890-1910 period. Past pupils at the school include former Lord Mayors Gerald Goldberg and Peter Barry.

Content and Structure

Scope and Content

The collection contains an extensive number of records in many cases dating back to the first years of the school.

The majority of the collection comprises records relating to pupils at the school including; registers of pupils 1865 – 1973, attendance roll books 1865 – 1990, religious instruction roll and certificate books 1867 - 1906, French class roll book 1878 – 1881, female cookery and laundry class roll books, 1909 – 1949, daily marks books 1911 – 1921. (See also – financial records, cash books) Teacher and teacher training records including; registers of teachers and monitors 1865, 1903 – 1924, extern, monitor and pupil teacher attendance books 1865 – 1998, daily report books 1865 – 1975, weekly, monthly and quarterly report books, 1866 – 1905, monitors training results 1867 – 1888, monthly progress reports, 1952 – 1967.

Inspectors records including report and observation books and advice books, 1867 – 1960.

Financial records, 1865 – 1939, mainly including cash books recording payment of fees; a payment and receipt book, and a requisition book.

(See list of items and descriptions for detailed descriptions of contents.)

System of Arrangement A: Pupil Records (1865 – 1990) (212 items)

1. Registration of Pupils (1865 – 1973) 2. Attendance Roll Books (1865 – 1990)

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