Figure 1.--

Some authors report that by the early 19th century, in part because of the Industrial revolution, many Scottish towns and villages were without schools. Children from wealthy families were instructed by tutors in their homes. There were some charity schools for poor children. Unlike England there was no prestigious private (called Public) schools. Some new schools were founded using the Bell and Lancaster systems. Here older children acted as ‘monitors’ to instruct the younger children. This kept the cost of running the schools low. Most working-class children received only the most basic reading, writing and religious instruction. As in England, few in Scotland attached any importance to educating poor children. Given the importance attached to teaching children to read in the 17th and 18th century, this prevailing early 19th century attitude is interesting. During the 19th century the Church of Scotland became almost entirely disassociated from the schools. Voluntary associations and by the late 19th century the Government became the major factors in public education. The Secretary of State for Scotland was made responsible for Scottish education in 1885, in effect becoming the equivalent of the British Minister of Education. The Education Act (Scotland) of 1872 was the counterpart of the English VEducation Act of 1870 which had placed public schools under the authority of locally elected school boards. Scotland carried out its own educational reforms in the late 19th century and by the turn of the 20th centurt every locality maintained free primary schools. Many localities also maintained free secondary schools which was not ye the case in England. Scottish schools maintained by charitable groups were never as widespread as in England. We have not yet been able to develop information on Scottish schoolwear and uniforms during the 19th century. We have little information at this time, but we do know that Scotland tended to lead England in terms of free public education. We do not believe that uniforms were worn by Scottish school children, except in the private schools.

Disappearance of Schools

Some authors report that by the late 18th and early 19th centuries, in part because of the Industrial revolution, many Scottish towns and villages were without schools by the late 18th and early 19th century. We can not yet confirmn this nor do we know how widespread the problem was. We know that some parishes had schools that were functioning. An example here is the Kirkmichael School near Balybol. One of the few other schools we have information on is the school at New Lanark, the mill comminity administered by social reformer David Owen. The New Lanark school was of course an experimental school, very different than any other school in Scotland at the time.

Private Schools

Children from wealthy families were instructed by tutors in their homes. There were some charity schools for poor children. Unlike England there was no prestigious private (called Public) schools at the beginning of the 19th century. A number of these schools were founded in Scotland in the 19th century, in some cases by wealthy industrialists. These schools are much less known than the major English Public schools. Here we need to investigate thev history of some of these schools, such as Dollar, Herriot. Loretto, and others. Some were established as academies, but we are not yet sure about the history of these schools.

Bell and Lancaster System

Some new schools were founded using the Bell and Lancaster systems. Here older children acted as ‘monitors’ to instruct the younger children. This kept the cost of running the schools low. Most working-class children received only the most basic reading, writing and religious instruction.

Attitude Toward Public Education

As in England, few in Scotland attached any importance to educating poor children. Given the importance attached to teaching children to read in the 17th and 18th century, this prevailing early 19th century attitude is interesting. During the 19th century the Church of Scotland became almost entirely disassociated from the schools.

Voluntary Associations

Voluntary associations and by the late 19th century the Government became the major factors in public education. Scottish schools maintained by charitable groups were never as widespread as in England.

Educational Reforms

The Secretary of State for Scotland was made responsible for Scottish education in 1885, in effect becoming the equivalent of the British Minister of Education. The Education Act (Scotland) of 1872 was the counterpart of the English VEducation Act of 1870 which had placed public schools under the authority of locally elected school boards. Scotland carried out its own educational reforms in the late 19th century and by the turn of the 20th centurt every locality maintained free primary schools. Many localities also maintained free secondary schools which was not yet the case in England.

Schoolwear

We have not yet been able to develop information on Scottish schoolwear and uniforms during the 19th century. We have little information at this time, but we do know that Scotland tended to lead England in terms of free public education. We do not believe that uniforms were worn by Scottish school children, except in the private schools.

Created: 8:18 PM 6/22/2004
Last updated: 6:13 PM 9/12/04