1. - The council on 28th march, 1911 (p 747), approved a revised scheme for the award of school medals and passed resolutions as follows -
(a) That, as from 1st April, 1911, medals be awarded to those pupils in public elementary schools maintained by the Council who, in the opinion of the head teacher, after consultation with the class teacher, have been the most deserving of recognition in respect of conduct, industry and attendance throughout the educational year, provided that not more than six medals be awarded in each class in the senior departments, and in each authorised class for older children in infants' departments of all L.C.C. and non-provided schools.
(b) That a clause be included in the prize scheme of each school setting out the conditions under which medals are awarded.
(c) That each successive medal gained by a pupil be of increasing intrinsic value.
(d) That the inscription on the medal be as follows -
Awarded by the London County Council to . . . for attendance, conduct and industry during the year.
For the administration of the new scheme it is necessary to determine (i.) the best method of securing the award of medals of increasing intrinsic value; and (ii.) the extent to which the approved design needs to be altered.
The medals awarded under the old scheme were as under -
(1) White medal (tin) with white suspender.
(2) White medal with bronze suspender.
(3) White medal with gilt suspender.
(4) Bronze medal with bronze suspender.
(5) Bronze medal with gilt suspender.
(6) gilt medal with white suspender.
(7) Gilt medal with bronze suspender.
(8) Silver medal with silver suspender.
(9) Silver medal with silver suspender and special bar.
We reported to the Committee on 2nd August, 1911 (pp 454-5), that we had arrived at certain conclusions, and the Committee approved the undermentioned procedure which we stated that we proposed to follow and instructed us to report in due course. -
(1) The present design should , in the main, be retained.<verbatim>
(2) The medal should 1¼ inches in diameter instead of 1½ inches.
(3) In the event of nickel being found to be suitable in all respects the first three medals be bright nickel , the fourth, fifth and sixth medals should be bronze, and all subsequent medals oxidised silver.
(4) In the event of nickel being found to be unsuitable and subject to the cost not being too great, the first six medals should be bronze and all subsequent medals silver.
(5) Each medals should be suspended from a clasp by a ribbon, the clasp to indicate the year for which the medal is awarded.
(6) The second and subsequent medal in each style should bear bars, in addition to the clasps, to indicate the number of medals awarded to the recipient.
(7) All clasps and bars should be of the same material as the medals to which they are attached.
(8) A superior pin and ring should be supplied.
(9) The names of the recipients should be engraved, as on military medals, upon the periphery of the medals.
(10) Mr. Frank Ransom should be commissioned (a) to prepare new casts of the King's medal, to meet the new requirements, and (b) to prepare models of suitable clasps and bars, as indicated above; and a fee of £15 15s. should be authorised.
(11) Expenditure not exceeding £20 should be authorised for the preparation of dies and the striking of a series of medals, clasps and bars in varying styles.
(12) The books and Apparatus Sub-Committee should consider the medals, clasps and bars prepared as suggested above with a view to determining the exact style and finish to be required in the future, and that the approved specimens should be sealed as standard samples.
(13) Before the medals, clasps and bars are finally approved, the suggested standard samples should be exhibited in the lobby at the County Hall.
We also reported that we had conferred with the Elementary Education Sub-Committee as to the administration of the new scheme, so far as it relates to pupils who have already been awarded a medal or medals under the old scheme; that the Sub-Committee were of the opinion that where a pupil has already been awarded a medal, or medals, such awards should be taken into consideration in determining the class of medal to be awarded under the new scheme, and the Committee decided accordingly.
We have now carefully considered specimen medals and are of the opinion -
(1) That tin is an unsatisfactory metal for the purposes of reproduction.
(2) That medals with an unpolished surface are more artistic in appearance than those with a polished surface.
(3) That it is not desirable that medals of the present design should have a raised rim.
(4) That the ribbon should be of red, white and blue silk arranged in accordance with the specimen which will be laid upon the table.
(5) That an improved box and label should be supplied.
(6) That the first three medals should be of unpolished bronze, the second three gilded bronze, and the third three oxidized silver.
(7) That the first, second and third medals of each of the three styles should bear one, two and three bars respectively, in addition to the clasp.