School Log Books were written up by Head Teachers weekly, and sometimes daily, to record attendance figures, occurrences and activities in schools. The Log Books from the First World War era which are held at the Kent History & Library Centre are a valuable source of first-hand information, showing how the war impacted on everyday life in Kent towns and villages during the war years and immediately afterwards. ;xNLx;;xNLx;----------------------------------------------;xNLx;For further details contact:;xNLx;;xNLx;Kent History & Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone ME14 1LQ;xNLx;;xNLx;archives@kent.gov.uk;xNLx;;xNLx;[Kent History & Library Centre](http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/history-and-heritage/kent-history-and-library-centre)
Schools around the county re-open after the Bank Holiday and receive news that Britain has declared war on Germany.
Immediately after the declaration of war, the War Office requisitions Queenborough Council School for the use of the military.
St Peter's & St Michael's School and St Luke's School are both commandeered in order to accommodate troops being assembled in the county town.
Boys are released from school after requisition requests for their services are made to Head Teachers by the Chief Constable of Kent.
St Dunstan's School and Broad Street Diocesan School in Canterbury are both commandeered by the military authorities.
At St Peter's and St Michael's School in Maidstone, the teacher of Standard IIB has been ordered to join his Territorial Company.
At Headcorn School, in Geography lessons, special attention is being given to the countries involved in the European War.
Some of the girls at Cecil Road School are busy making 'war socks,' while others are having lessons in ambulance work, before the school closes for the summer holidays.
With fears that war may cause food shortages, Herbert Pudney, Head Master at Chilham Mixed School, is keen for the children to make full use of the school's garden.
In preparation for possible shortages, boys at Headcorn School are making sure their garden plots are well stocked with winter vegetables.
Miletown School, in Sheerness, is taken over by the military authorities at short notice.
One teacher from Cecil Road Girls' School, Gravesend, has started assisting at the New Thames Yacht Club Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital.
On Trafalgar Day, the Chairman of Gravesend Education Committee speaks to children at Cecil Road School about why Britain entered the War.
Kent Education Committee has issued instructions for refugee children to be admitted to schools in the county in the ordinary way.
The two Assistant Teachers at Kilndown Church of England School have both been mobilised for Red Cross duties.
Teachers qualified to give instruction in Physical Drill are being sought by the Army.
At St Peter's and St Michael's Boys' School in Maidstone, three teachers are now absent on Military Service.
Boys at New Cross Street School, Margate, bring in donations of vegetables for Belgian refugees.
The Girls at Blue Town Council School, Sheerness, have been knitting items of warm clothing for Belgian refugees.
Girls at All Souls' School, New Cheriton, bake a cake as a gift for Belgian refugees.
Children from Headcorn School have sent a parcel of clothing and other gifts to former pupils who are serving at the Front.
At New Cross Street School in Margate, the children have been given weekly talks about the war.
At the Hook's School, Snodland, it has become impossible to maintain heating at an adequate temperature.
The Head Master at the North Council School in Folkestone has started to collect the names of 'Old Boys' now serving in the Forces.
Lighting restrictions are being strictly enforced in coastal districts. School timetables are adjusted to comply with regulations.
Cobden Road School in Sevenoaks is closed in order to provide accommodation for troops on the march between Aldershot and Folkestone.
Men from the Shropshire Light Infantry are billeted overnight at Kilndown Church of England School.
Elder children from Folkestone schools attend a lecture at the Town Hall on "The Siege of Antwerp" given by Sir Cecil Hertslet, British Consulate General.
Kent Education Committee has set down conditions under which children may be engaged temporarily in farm labour during the summer months.
A request from the War Office for respirators is taken up at schools in Eastry and Dartford.
At New Cross School in Margate, children salute the Flag, sing patriotic songs and are addressed by the Head Master on the significance of Empire Day.
When the minelayer "Princess Irene" exploded in the Medway Estuary on 27th May, one of those killed was Ida Barden, a pupil at Shorne School.
School attendance is badly affected after a Zeppelin Air Raid in which 8 bombs fall on Gravesend, causing extensive damage to buildings.
Girls from Dartford National School give an evening performance to wounded soldiers at the Orchard Hospital, on the outskirts of Dartford.
The Kent Education Committee has instructed schools that Lighting Regulations must be strictly adhered to.
Schoolchildren are taught about Nelson and the British Navy on the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
With coal supplies being depleted, schools are instructed to economise on fuel consumption.
At Blue Town Council School in Sheerness, the elder girls are knitting items of clothing for soldiers, using wool supplied by the wife of a Colonel.
Children from Queenborough Infants' School send chocolate out to a French girl after hearing about the war from a soldier on leave from Ypres.
Over the past week, children at St Mark's School in Tunbridge Wells have brought in 130 eggs and 5 shillings in cash for the National Egg Collection.
Lydd Council School is closed for a week after being commandeered by the military authorities.
The Mayor of Queenborough, Captain Edward Woodriff Jaffray, addresses the children at Queenborough School on Empire Day.
In a drive to increase the production of munitions, the Government has ordered the postponement of Whitsun Bank Holiday in areas where munitions are being produced.
Workmen have opened up a tunnel underneath the Pier Infants' School in Dover, to be used as an shelter should an air raid occur during school hours.
Greenhithe School closes for 3 weeks in order to allow children to help pick fruit on local farms.
An anonymous donor has provided money for a War Savings Book for each child at St Mark's School, Tunbridge Wells.
Captain E W Jaffray, Mayor of Queenborough, visits Queenborough School to address all the children on the subject of the recent Battle of Jutland.
The Kent Education Committee has directed schools to open on Bank Holiday Monday in response to the Government's appeal.
The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, C W Emson, has presented each school in the Borough with a framed portrait of John Travers Cornwell.
Girls from Cecil Road School, Gravesend, donate Xmas Pudding ingredients to the Rosherville VAD Hospital.
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