Scotland in the nineteenth century

5. Education

Section 5.8: Technical education

"to inquire into the instruction of the industrial classes of certain foreign countries in technical and other subjects, for the purpose of comparison with that of the corresponding classes in this country; and into the influence of such instruction on manufacturing and other industries at home and abroad."

The Commissioners visited educational institutions, and industrial works on the Continent and in Britain. Reports on technical instruction in various institutions in Glasgow were included (pp. 484-493). The Commissioners discovered an important difference between the English and the Scottish Education Acts; in Scotland, the jurisdiction of the school board extended to certain secondary and higher grade schools. The High School in Glasgow, for example, was conducted under the board, although not supported by the rates. Many people of the lower middle classes sent their children to Board schools. The Commissioners gave particulars of the number of day schools and evening schools under the Board, the number of pupils and teachers in each school, the attendance rate, subjects taught and passes. They found that industrial training was confined to cookery and needlework for girls.

A special feature of Allan Glen's Institution, established in 1853 to provide free elementary education, was the workshop instruction given in the use of tools. Arrangements for teaching practical chemistry were also excellent. The Commissioners were informed that this was the only day school in Scotland in which science was taught in a satisfactory manner.

Glasgow College of Science and Art was described as "One of the most important of the kind in the country for the evening instruction of artizans, foremen, and others in science and applied art." Evening classes, were also an important feature of the Andersonian Institution, which provided practical instruction in theoretical and applied chemistry and physics. A great number of students also attended the arts classes and classes in engineering, astronomy, zoology, geology, botany and chemistry at Glasgow University at a very low cost.

The Commissioners concluded that, compared with other cities, more young men took advantage of evening classes in science and mechanical drawing. They said, "the new generation of engineers and manufacturers of Glasgow has been trained in the technical schools of the city."