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Appointment
The Parochial Schoolmaster was elected by the
Heritors and Presbytry members, and then attended a meeting of the Kirk
Session to finalise the appointment. These entries, relating to Thomas
Inglis (1771-bet 1851-1855), are typical:
28 March 1809. Compeared Mr Thomas Inglis and produced an extract of his
election to schoolmaster of Whitsome, a certificate of his moral character,
a certificate of his having taken the oaths to the Government* and being
examined by the Presbytry upon the different branches of education
generally taught in Parochial Schools, was found qualified and is therefore
approved by the Presbytry.
That Mr Thomas Inglis was elected School Master of the parish of Whitsome
on the 21st day of June 1808 and that he is unmarried is attested and
signed at Chirnside the 28 July 1810 by Thos Inglis.
That the foresaid Mr Thomas Inglis was married to Mary Wildgoose on 7 June
1810 is attested at Chirnside the 28 July 1810.
That the foresaid Mr Thomas Inglis translated from the Parish of Whitsome
to the Parish of Coldstream in September 1814.
*these oaths are
not mentioned in 18th century entries.
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Finances
Income for the year ending 11 November 1873
School Pence £61 0s 4d
Heritors of Parish £74 6s 2d
Total £135 6s 6d
Expenditure for the same year
Salary of schoolmaster £118 0s 4d
Salary of assistant teacher £15 0s 0d
Repairs £1 7s 6d
Feu duty 18s 8d
Total £135 6s 6d
The "School Pence" were the fees paid by the parents of the
children registered at the school. There was a sliding scale, dending on
the posperity of the family, and the children of the poorest were taught
free. The charge for boys and girls ranged from 2½ to 6½d, with infants
being charged 2½d.
John Turnbull (the teacher in 1873) supplemented his income with several
additional jobs which together paid £20 10/-:
Inspector of Poor
Collector of Poor Rates
Registrar of Births, Marriages a& Deaths
Sanitary Inspector
Census Enumerator
Succeeding schoolmasters also seem to have inherited these posts.
In 1905, Alexander Brown's salary was £145, and his assistant was getting
£50. In 1906, this was increased to £60 and a second assistant was
appointed on a salary of £50.
Of course, the schoolmaster also had a house and garden.
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Education
The inspection in May 1879 listed the subjects to be taught:
Subjects according to the code, numbers 1,2,3,5,12 and 14 (I'm still
looking for a copy of this code to find out what these numbers mean. The
following subjects are specified:
Mathematics
Geometry to level 4 and 5
Algebra involving quadratic equations
Book of Euclid
Latin: Cesar (sic), Ovid, Virgil, Tallust of Horace
French: ordinary reading books, Charles XII
Physical Geography
English Literature
Domestic economy
Girls were taught plain needlework, daily.
All as far as required to stage 3 of the code, qualifying for a Certificate
of 3rd Class.
In the year 1878/1879, there were no pupils studying beyond the stages set
down in the code, or planning for University.
Greek, latin and mathematics are all described as "University
subjects".
When Alexander Brown was appointed in 1901, he was required to be qualified
to teach the following Higher Subjects:
Science (botany and agriculture)
Drawing (up to and including model)
Music
Drill
Religious instruction to a syllabus subject to inspection by the Presbytry.
Since they're not mentioned, the basics must have been standard.
Throughout the 19th century, there's mention of remedial classes for
adults, in the evenings or at the weekend. Apparently if they reached the
required attendance of 90%, their fees (2/6) were returned!
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