Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland

EDUCATION.
In 1895 the capitation grant paid by government in
relief of fees was at the rate of 12s. a year. The num-
ber of scholars between 5 and 14 years of age on the
registers of schools in that year was 703,377. The
fee grant was paid on account of all these excepting the
scholars in fee-paying schools and in schools not claim-
ing the grant. These amounted only to 20,000, so
that relief was granted in the case of 683,377 scholars
under 15, while many School Boards and managers
had abolished fees beyond the limit of 14 years. In
1894 the age limit was extended in both directions,
3 to 15 being substituted for 5 to 14. The introduc-
tion of free education has had a marked effect in
increasing the average attendance. The percentage of
scholars on the registers who were in average attend-
ance in 1889 (before free education was granted) was
77"6; in 1896 it was 821. That is probably a higher
percentage than can be shown by any other country in
the world. It should be added, however, that all the
children of school age in Scotland have not yet been
brought into the schools. Accommodation has now
been provided for 97 per cent, of the children of school
age; but only 85 per cent, are on the registers, and 70
per cent, are in daily attendance.
The following table shows in a succinct form the pro-
gress made in school supply, in school attendance, and
in other particulars during the years from 1874 to 1884,
and from 1884 to 1894:—
1874.
1884.
1894.
Schools inspected, .
. . 2,366
3,131
3,004
Scholars provided for,
. . 372,090
655,672
770,244
Scholars on registers,
. . 344,628
587,945
686,335
Scholars in average
at-
263,748
448,242
567,442
Scholars examined
in
higher subjects,
. . 4,407
61,429
47,332
Certificated teachers,
. . 3,165
6,220
8,637
Assistant teachers, .
. . 66
1,012
1,947
Pupil teachers, . .
3,833
3,629
3,938
It will be noticed that, while the number of scholars
has increased greatly since 1884, the number of schools
has diminished. This is explained by the fact that in
many cases, particularly in large cities like Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and Dundee, one large school, with accommo-
dation for 1000 and 1500 scholars, has taken the place
of a number of small schools, accommodating only from
300 to 600 scholars. Many of these large schools are
magnificent buildings, well furnished, well ventilated,
and thoroughly appointed in every respect.
Evening Continuation Schools. — In 1893 the title
of ' Night Schools " gave place to that of ' Evening
Continuation Schools,' and a special code was issued for
them, greatly enlarging the course of study, prominence
being given to teaching of the duties of citizenship, to
natural science, and to technical education. The change
led to a marked improvement in the attendance. The
average attendance of scholars above twelve years of
age was in 1896 nearly 46,000, earning a grant of
over J45,000.
Inspection. — There are in Scotland twenty-five in-
spectors of schools, of whom three are chief inspectors.
There are four sub-inspectors and twenty-two inspec-
tors' assistants. Each chief inspector reports every
year, and includes in his report the views of the district
inspectors, and also those of the sub-inspectors and the
assistants on special points.
Training of Teachers. — There are eight Training
Colleges for teachers in Scotland, all connected with
ecclesiastical denominations — three of these being in
connection with the Established Church, three of them
1726
with the Free Church, one with the Scottish Episcopal
Church, and one with the Roman Catholic Church.
The number of students in training at these colleges
in 1895-96 was 932—208 male and 724 female; and
the Government Grant amounted to ,£32,135.
In 1876 chairs of the theory, practice, and history
of education were founded in the universities of Edin-
burgh and St Andrews by the trustees of Dr Andrew
Bell, the founder of the Madras or Monitorial system.
A Lectureship on education has been recently instituted
in the universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen. Under
the Scotch Code, students in training colleges (Queen's
scholars) may attend a Scottish university during their
two years of training, and the authorities of the training
college may dispense with their attendance there during
such hours as they may deem necessary. The classes of
education in Edinburgh, St Andrews, and Aberdeen are
recognised under this section of the code. The number
of Queen's scholars availing themselves of this privilege
rose from 33 in 1874 to 932 in 1896. The code of
1895 instituted a new order of Queen's students, who
may receive the whole of their training in a university
or a college.
Scholastic Organisation. — The chief body for the
protection of the interests of members of the scholastic
profession is ' The Educational Institute of Scotland,'
instituted in 1847, and incorporated by Royal Charter
in 1851. Its membership includes teachers, both male
and female, of every grade, from teachers in elementary
schools to university professors. A 'Burgh and Parochial
Schoolmasters' Widows' and Children's Fund' was estab-
lished by Act of Parliament in 1807. There is also
an Association of Teachers in the Secondary Schools of
Scotland.
Authorities. — The Minutes of the Committee of the
Privy Council on Education, from 1839; the Annual
Blue Books of the Scottish Education Department; the
Report of the Commission of Inquiry, 1867; the Re-
ports of the Board of Education for Scotland, 1874-78;
the Report of the Universities Commission, 1837; the
Pveport and Ordinances of the Universities Commission,
1858; the Report of the Universities Commission,
1878; the Ordinances of the Universities Commission,
1889; the Report of the Endowed Institutions Com-
mission, 1869; the First Report of the Educational
Endowments Commission, 1884; James Grant's History
of the Burgh Schools of Scotland, 1876; Sella^s
Manual of the Education Acts, 7th edition, 1879;
Craik's Education and the State, 1883; Cassell's Edu-
cational Year Booh, 1881-84; Sir J. Kay Shuttle-
worth, On Public Education, 3 vols., 1853; H. Mann,
Education in Great Britain, 1854; J. S. Blackie, On
the Advancement of Learning in Scotland, 1855; J.
Lorimer, The Universities of Scotland, Past, Present,
and Possible, 1854; Voigt, Mittheilungen iiber das
Unterrichtswesen Englands und Schottlands, 2nd ed,,
1863; Sir Alexander Grant's Story of the University
of Edinburgh, 1884; Harrison's Oure Tounis Colledge;
Sketches of the History of the Old College of Edin-
burgh, 1884; the Calendars of the Scottish Univer-
sities ; S. S. Laurie's Primary Instruction in Relation
to Education, 3rd edit., 1883; J. M. D. Meiklejohn's
Life of Andrew Bell, 1881; Steven's History of the
High School of Edinburgh, 1849; Steven's History of
Oeorge Heriot's Hospital, continued by F. W. Bedford,
1859; Dalgleish's High School of Edinburgh, 1857;
George Combe's Education : Its Principles and
Practice, edited by W. Jolly, 1869; The Museum: a
Journal of Education, 1862-69; George Combe's
Discussions on Education, 1894; John Edgar, History
of Early Scottish Education, 1893.