Page 56 - KBHA BULLETIN 2

53

held in one undivided room. However, it was recommended that it be divided into two sections at

least. Great emphasis was placed on the SWEDISH DRILL.

An interesting bit of trivia, was the fact that St. James Primary, was also referred to as Kalk Bay

(R.C) Primary in quite a number of inspection reports.

By, 1899, still no separate classroom was built, as there was a lack of funds. Miss Millicent

Searle was appointed as Principal, but left after a short while. Fr. Duignam once again took
charge of the school. The inspection report of 8 February, 1901 indicated that Fr. Duignam

single-handedly taught 64 children with the help of a 12 year old child. Presumably this was

Frances Hilario, who was later to qualify as a teacher and taught at St. James until the early
1950s. By 25 February 1901, Miss Elizabeth Murphy was appointed Principal, having previously

taught Freehand Drawing.

From the inspection reports of this time, the following recommendations were made:

1. A school library is needed.
2. Still no separate classroom for the infant/junior primary classes.

3. Appointment of a qualified teacher to assist the principal is indispensable, if justice is to be

done to all the classes.

Things changed swiftly again by the end of 1901, with Miss Murphy resigning and Miss Searle

reappointed as acting principal. It was also suggested at this stage that the school be staffed and
run by the Dominican Sisters.

However, by 1902, Fr. Duignam was once more in charge of the school, but barely able to cope.

In 1900 it was decided to build a railway station between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, in response
to a popular request from the growing numbers of residents. Unfortunately, the plans included the

site on which the St. James Church was built. There had been no station between Muizenberg