Early Schools

Considering the hard life which they led, it might have been thought that little time would be given to educational or cultural pursuits, but the Parish and Church records make it clear, that schooling was something which parents wanted for their children and were willing to pay for out of their meagre incomes. The Minister and Elders encouraged the setting up of schools,and money was given by the Church for schoolmasters at Acharn, Ardtalnaig and Lawers. The Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge which had been founded in 1709 was of great assistance and in
1729 they gave a grant of 50 merks Scots for a schoolmaster at Alltvin, half way between Ardeonaig and Ardtalnaig. The Society also gave contributions for Lawers and Glenquaich, while the landowners helped in
the provision of school buildings, and in the provision of roads and bridges to allow the children to get to school.
At Kenmore, and, probably, at the other schools each pupil brought a peat for the fire; the larger the class the warmer the school!

Although only a small percentage of children attended the first schools, the numbers grew rapidly as the parents began to realise the blessings of education. The teachers were paid very small salaries and were often
dependent on the hospitality of the parents for their daily bread. They had certain perquisites, however. In 1786,a petition by the people of Fearnan to Lord Breadalbane states, that since 1761 they had provided a teacher for
their children to whom they paid £1 6s. 8d. for the half year without any other payment “except his chance at Handsel Monday and cock-fighting”.

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