Stewarton Schools

The Old Order

By John W Mainds, M,A

AT this time, when we are commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of our school, it is fitting that we should remember its predecessors and their work in Stewarton. Incidentally, we can do so with a certain amount of pride, for, although there is little that is unique in our educational history, the record is one of loyal adherence to learning even when interest was flagging elsewhere.

As early as 1620 there was a school in the Kirktown of Stewarton, and, although our records are incomplete, from references in various documents we may assume that after that date at any rate regular provision was made for instruction in the parish. That the parents in Stewarton were careful to give their children the benefit of this, also seems evident. In an eighteenth century association of the bonnet-makers, for example, the number of signatures written in full is remarkable, and particularly so if we bear in mind that those who could affix their initials only were probably elderly men. One hundred years ago the desire for education here was so general that four hundred pupils attended schools in Stewarton, and it was claimed there was not an illiterate person in the parish.

Information regarding the subjects taught in Stewarton during the seventeenth century would be interesting, but, unfortunately, we have no direct evidence. Probably instruction would here, as elsewhere, be confined to the first R—reading and the study of the Catechism. Writing may have been taught to more advanced pupils, and even Latin may have been studied, but it is improbable that a knowledge of arithmetic was considered necessary at that time. Considerable importance was attached to " gude manners," and schoolmasters were frequently enjoined " to teach their scholars to abandon all uncivil gestures such as shaking of head and hand, . . . and to compose their countenance, hands and feet." In the eighteenth century Latin and Greek were certainly taught in Stewarton, and more than one hundred years ago pupils, in addition to the subjects mentioned, could pursue the study of arithmetic, mathematics, geometry, navigation, French and science.

Drawing, woodwork, cookery and needlework were quite unknown in the schools, and science we are afraid was merely a barbarous collection of half-understood words and phrases. Again, only rarely would the pupils have some little relaxation in singing, and, at a time when playgrounds were unheard of, physical instruction was quite out with the sphere of school life.

Prior to the Acts of 1872 and 1891 education, of course, was not compulsory nor was it free. When the Parish School was established in Stewarton a stent or tax of 22s was levied for education on all lands that had a valued rental of £100 Scots. Not infrequently in the seventeenth century the heritors showed a marked disinclination to pay this tax, and, with remarkable regularity about the year 1680 we read that " the skoolemaster at the Kirk pursued the haill tennantis within the Lairdshipe " for his dues. In some cases payment for a? much as " two years' service bygane " is demanded, but, as this was the turbulent period of the Covenanters and the Killing Time, perhaps the heritors of Ayrshire were themselves in pecuniary difficulties. The revenue from this source was, however, inadequate, and fees were charged. Two hundred years ago these were usually about 13s Scots (I/I sterling) for reading English, and 20s Scots (1/8 sterling) for Latin, per quarter. One hundred years later the " wages " (sic) in Stewarton Parish School were :—" For reading English, per quarter, 2/6 ; for English and writing, 3/-; for English, writing, arithmetic, Latin, etc., etc., .5/-." At certain seasons also the pupils were expected to bring gifts to the schoolmaster, and an interesting custom in this connection was observed in Stewarton as late as the middle of the nineteenth century. On New Year's Day the pupils brought, each in proportion to his parents' means, a gift to the master. High distinction was conferred on the chief givers. The boy and the girl who gave most were proclaimed king and queen of the school, and were granted the privilege of mixing a jug of toddy—very weak—and treating their fellow pupils. Then by an exercise of the royal prerogative a holiday was usually granted.

These charges were certainly small, but money was scarce, and it is not surprising that the majority of children received instruction solely in reading and writing. In 1820 pupils taking these subjects at Stewarton outnumbered those taking arithmetic by four to one. Nor again was it unusual to find that certain schools were open only in the Winter months. Here it may not be out of place to record that school hours were once upon a time much longer than they are to-day. Indeed, when the Parish School was established the hours may have been from seven in the morning till six in the evening. Such, at any rate, were the hours at Dundonald and probably at Stewarton, where, in 1711, " the counsellors appointed the drum to goe every morning at five acloack."

Although there was no-system, of free education we are pleased to record that for many years ten poor children were taught gratis in the Parish School on a mortification left by Wm. Smith, of Cutstraw, and that, as long ago as 1647, the Parish of Stewarton contributed £7 annually to the cost of maintaining a bursar at College from the Presbytery of Irvine.

' And now let us consider briefly the schools which existed in Stewarton in the years prior to the Education Act of 1872. These were five in number. The oldest—the Parish School—met in the two-storied building which still stands near the Laigh Kirk, classes being held in the ground floor apartment with the dominies rooms above. In I872 Robert Sinclair was master here. His predecessor, Duncan Macfarlane, held office for more than fifty years and introduced Stewarton's famous son, Dr. Robert Watt, to the study of Latin and Greek, Not far from this school existed one of a different nature. We have no records dealing with it, but it seems to have been devoted to providing instruction in needlecraft to maidens whose thoughts were turning to " a bottom drawer." For many years a school was maintained in Stewarton by the U.P. Church. This was situated at Bridgend, and from the middle of last century was directed successively by Messrs. Cunningham, Pollock and Simpson. Another school of a similar character —the Free Church School—met in a long, low building, situated between the John Knox Church and High Street, and was for twenty years managed by Mr. Holburn. On his death in IS73 the Bridgend pupils were transferred to this school. Mr. Simpson was made headmaster and the name of High Street School was given to it. In the following year the Bridgend School was purchased by the Good Templars and was for many years, and, indeed, still is used as a hall. The fifth school met in the Cunninghame Institute. Popularly known as " The Academy," this was a private school founded probably by a Mr. Manson, who enjoyed a certain reputation in the West of Scotland as the author of an arithmetic text-book. When he left Stewarton, Mr. Struthers took over the school, and was succeeded about 1875 by Mr. A. L. Watt.

In April, I873, the first School Board in Stewarton was elected " amidst great excitement," and it will be of interest to some of our readers to recall its members. They were Thomas Young, manufacturer. Chairman; James Miller, Stacklawhill; Alex. Picken ; David Stevenson, Whitlee : Robert Mackie, Clerkhill ; James Wyllie, Greenbank Villa; and David Whiteford.

The first task undertaken bv this Board was that of providing adequate and healthy accommodation for the children entrusted to its care, for none of the existing schools provided such elementary requirements. The Parish School, for example, was described as " a very small school of low ceiling," and one building was described by a contemporary as a place of " rotting desks, mouldy walls, and poisoned vapours." Tlie first intention of the Board was to erect two schools capable of holding from 280 to 300 scholars, but later it was decided to erect one. " In September, 1874, the plans of New Street School and house were sealed and approved by the Board of Education Department."

On Thursday, 9th November, 1876, this school was opened. It was a bright, frosty morning, and church bells rang out merrily on the clear air as the boys and girls, almost five hundred in number, assembled outside the Institute about noon, and then marched through the principal streets. What a surprise would await the children of to-day if they could be taken back sixty years ! New Street had just been formed to give access to the school. Dunlop Street had not been thought of, the pupils from Dean Street direction approaching the school by a path just wide enough for two to walk side by side. The school itself with its well laid out shrubbery, its fresh white sandstone and its red facings, presented, we are informed, " a fine perspective from Main Street," and to the rear was a large playground from which a fair prospect, unmarred by buildings, could be had of the pleasant land to the North and East. When the parents and children had assembled, Mr. Mackie, Chairman of the Board, formally opened the Public School.

Although three years had passed since the first Board was elected, it was the opening of the Public School that really marked the passing of the old order in Stewarton. The long struggle on the part of the Church and individuals to give every child its right to a training for life was over, and the State assumed entire responsibility for providing primary education. An age of wonderful experiment and development had commenced, but its records we must leave to another pen.