D426 Education 

Introduction

Following Moore and Bird the history of elementary education on the Island can be split into the following phases

• pre-1660's: mostly non-formal instruction by the clergy though are are some mentions in visitations of schools kept by non-licenced masters. It would seem however that many Manx, including the Clergy were well educated.
• c.1660 formalised schooling introduced by Bishop Barrow with some legal requirement on attendance.
• c.1700 development of Barrow's scheme by Bishop Wilson with poorly paid schoolmasters with schools (as distinct from earlier secular use of churches) in each parish and town. Many schools aided from mid-18th century by charitable bequests.
• c.1800 the decline of the endowed school and the rise of private schools, generally established by non-Manx to cater for the more affluent Manx and post 1830, with easier communication, boarders from England and the colonies exploiting the cheaper living cost on the Island.
• c.1820 introduction of day schools not associated with established church - both by Methodists (extension of Sunday Schools) and Catholics. Introduction of National schools, run along Lancastrian lines, in three towns, to provide mass education.
• 1872 education act (modelled on 1870 English act) setting up Board Schools - the defects of these numerous elected boards (which reflected the sometimes acrimonious disputes between Established and non-Established churches) were detailed in the 1911 commission report.
• post 1920 control under a single Education Authority and the rebuilding/construction of many schools.

What would now be called secondary education developed along similar lines:

• c.1660 - establishment of the Free Grammar School at Castletown and an informal one at Ramsey.
• c.1705 the establishment of Douglas Grammar School
• c.1760 the establishment of 'Mathematical' schools at Peel - emphasis on vocational training for seamen (e.g. in navigation)
• c.1790 establishment of Ramsey Grammar School
• 1833 - establishment of King William's College which though not linked with other Island schools had some influence.

Tertiary education however progressed little beyond Earl James' dream of setting up a University on the Island; however Bishop Barrow also institued the Academic Students who were students trained for the ministry as part of the Academic School at Castletown. Bishop Wilson later instituted a more rigorous theological education and in the 1880's a Theological College was briefly established though later merged with that at the University of Durham.

Online Pages:

R.B. Moore History of Education in the Isle of Man in Education Week 1926

E.C. Owen A Hundred Years of Education 1930

IoM Charities 1831 lists all Parish Schools, their endowments and their teachers of the time.

H Syndd-Kinnersley Some Passages in the Life of one of HM Inspectors of Schools London 1907 (Chap 19 deals with Man)

(some Individual schools under History/Education)

Offline References:

Manx

Hinton Bird The Island that led - The History of Manx Education 2 vols (self published Port St Mary - ISBN 0-9516918-05 + 0-9516918-1-3) [nd but 1993 + 1995] - an obviously well researched (+ detailed study) marred mainly by poorly reproduced illustrations, at times a rather opaque chapter structure not aided by the simple layout and a frustratingly poor index (especially to vol 1 - that to vol 2 is better).

R.E.C. Foster The Pioneering Schools of Peel Proc IoMNHAS IX #3 p269 et seq. 1990.

General

G. Sutherland Elementary Education in the Nineteenth Century (Booklet G76) London: Historical Association 1971