County Borough of Cork School Attendance Report/Return Books
TitreCounty Borough of Cork School Attendance Report/Return Books
RéférenceCP/CO/SA/RB
Date
1926-30, 1947-55, 1958-68
Date 1926 - 1968
Etendue et contenuThe School Attendance Committee for the County Borough of Cork operated under the Irish Education Act, 1892 and subsequent legislation, particularly the School Attendance Act 1926. Such committees were created for administrative districts throughout the country, and were under the supervision of the Commissioners of National Education. Committees consisted of members appointed by the Commissioners, and by the relevant local authority of the district, in this case Cork Corporation. Under the School Attendance Act 1926, the Minister for Education took over from the Commissioners in making appointments. For further information on the School Attendance Committee, see Descriptive List for Committee minutes: CP/CO/SA/M.
Day-to-day supervision and enforcement of school attendance was carried out by School Attendance Officers, who reported to the Committee. Initially, there was a Head School Attendance Officer and officers for each of the city’s three districts (Central, Northern, and Southern). In July 1945 a fourth School Attendance Officer was appointed and districts were re-arranged into North-Western, North-Eastern, South-Western, and South-Eastern. These later became districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. Fifth and sixth districts were added in 1955 and 1965 following extensions of the city boundary. SAOs’ regular reports were concerned with cases of non-compliance with provisions of the 1892 Education Act. Monthly returns of attendances also came to be submitted. Other reports and returns were furnished as required, and many of these were inserted into the minutes. The Royal Irish Constabulary, and subsequently the Garda Siochana, had a role in enforceing bye-laws regarding school attendance, and were involved in prosecutions of offenders before the district courts.
The present series consists of volumes documenting the work of SAOs, including two books of monthly attendance returns (1926-30, 1958-68), one SAO’s Report to Committee book (largely empty, with some enclosures 1930-31 noting monthly attendance figures), and one book recording convictions for non-attendance (1945-55). The monthly returns note the number of children on the school rolls in the stated district, and give totals and averages for all districts and the City area. The SAO’s Report to Committee book was to record parents’ name, residence, and occupation, child’s name, and attendance details, possibly with a view to noting satisfactory or irregular attendance, but the present volume is largely empty. The Record of convictions for non-attendance is marked ‘Garda Siochana’ and is described as a diary. Information is grouped by month. Each entry notes number in register, name of parent, address, name of child, date of conviction, age of child, and remarks/decision of Court.
The returns are of interest in documenting the work of School Attendance Officers and the enforcement of School Attendance legislation. They also contain the names of schools throughout the city area, many of which no longer exist.
Day-to-day supervision and enforcement of school attendance was carried out by School Attendance Officers, who reported to the Committee. Initially, there was a Head School Attendance Officer and officers for each of the city’s three districts (Central, Northern, and Southern). In July 1945 a fourth School Attendance Officer was appointed and districts were re-arranged into North-Western, North-Eastern, South-Western, and South-Eastern. These later became districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. Fifth and sixth districts were added in 1955 and 1965 following extensions of the city boundary. SAOs’ regular reports were concerned with cases of non-compliance with provisions of the 1892 Education Act. Monthly returns of attendances also came to be submitted. Other reports and returns were furnished as required, and many of these were inserted into the minutes. The Royal Irish Constabulary, and subsequently the Garda Siochana, had a role in enforceing bye-laws regarding school attendance, and were involved in prosecutions of offenders before the district courts.
The present series consists of volumes documenting the work of SAOs, including two books of monthly attendance returns (1926-30, 1958-68), one SAO’s Report to Committee book (largely empty, with some enclosures 1930-31 noting monthly attendance figures), and one book recording convictions for non-attendance (1945-55). The monthly returns note the number of children on the school rolls in the stated district, and give totals and averages for all districts and the City area. The SAO’s Report to Committee book was to record parents’ name, residence, and occupation, child’s name, and attendance details, possibly with a view to noting satisfactory or irregular attendance, but the present volume is largely empty. The Record of convictions for non-attendance is marked ‘Garda Siochana’ and is described as a diary. Information is grouped by month. Each entry notes number in register, name of parent, address, name of child, date of conviction, age of child, and remarks/decision of Court.
The returns are of interest in documenting the work of School Attendance Officers and the enforcement of School Attendance legislation. They also contain the names of schools throughout the city area, many of which no longer exist.
Etendue4 volumes
LangueEnglish
Mot clé de personneCork City Council, Cork Corporation
AccessCP/CO/SA/RB/1-3 are open to researchers holding a current readers’ ticket.
CP/CO/SA/RB/4, Record of Convictions under School Attendance Act, is subject to 100 year closure, as it contains sensitive personal information regarding prosecutions for non-attendance and committals to industrial schools. The right to access one’s personal data under the Data Protection Act is not affected by this closure.
Conditions de reproductionSubject to Rules Governing Reproduction of Records
Niveausérie
RepositoryCork City and County Archives