Under the Board of Education

Prizon school class photo 1933 / 34

Subjects would have varied depending on the skills of the teachers. Teachers were split into 4 categories:

  • 1st Class
  • 2nd Class
  • 3rd Class

Probation (which was also split into the 3 classes) There were calls for Irish to be introduced in the 1800’s as a subject as mainly of the local would have spoken this as their first language, as mentioned in one of the reports;

“The parents of 41 of the pupils speak Irish; there is no Irish class, as the Irish-speaking children do not attend school regularly; besides, he has no certificate to teach the language, and even if he had, the number of days of attendance.””
— Mr. Thomas Kelly, Prizon N.S., Balla, Co. Mayo - EPPI

Earliest record of teacher

20150702-Scan-40004.jpg

In a report from 1852 M. Barret Esq. is mentioned as the school patron and the school inspector is Edward MacCreamor Esq. (Westport). It is not until 1864 we see a mention of the teacher’s names:

  • Edward Colgan - Boys school,
  • Bridget Colgan – Girls school.

 Edward and Bridget were married and had a son Edward in 1867. They later emigrated to USA.

  • Carlos
  • Tom Walshe
  • Henry Curry of Bellcarra
  • William Keely and his sister 1867

At this stage the school is split into both boys and girls. This appears around 1862 when Prison school gets split into two schools:

  • Manulla – Prison- Roll book no.5937
  • Manulla-Prizon – Roll Book no. 8291
     

Subjects Studied

The Board had lined out a few subjects should be taught;

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Spelling
  • Grammar
  • Arithmetic
  • Music
  • Geography
  • History

For girls

  • Sewing
  • Needlework

For Boys

  • Agriculture (farming)
  • Book Keeping

(Source commissioners reports of the board of education)