Newtown State School – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
As parents of school-aged children are all aware, it’s coming to the end of the school holidays and time to send them back to school. Education has always been important to Ipswich parents and there have been many schools built in Ipswich. Here is one that is no longer with us but was so popular it outgrew its buildings.
Newtown State School was built in 1882 and closed 33 1/2 years later in 1915, when Silkstone State School was built to replace it. Over those years the school had been added to, with a play shed built and the Head Teacher’s residence being converted into classrooms, but still the school was having accommodation problems. Classes were held on verandahs and in the play sheds and the grounds were fast becoming inadequate for the numbers enrolled. School records show that 957 children had attended Newtown School up to its closure in December, 1915.
The school day started at 9.30am and went to 4pm. Subjects included arithmetic, grammar, geography, spelling, reading, writing, tables, recitation, history, algebra, mensuration, drill for boys, dressmaking for girls. And of course for punishment you were sent to the head teacher for the cane across the hand.