Education in Harris in 1891

These are the educators as found in the Census records:

NORTH (7)

Donald J Maclennan, No 1 Govig, North Harris, b. Harris

Duncan Macaskill, 26, Sub School Master, 9 Renigidil, North Harris ED10, b. Harris

Jessie C McLaren, 23, Teacher of Elementary School, School house, Kyles Scalpay, b. Dull, Perth

Donald Bethune, 54, Public School Teacher, No 28 East Tarbert, b. Glasgow

William L Duncan, 57, Pub Sch Teacher, Public School, North Harris ED7, b. Aberdeen

Donald Macdonald, 16, Teacher, 3 North Harris, b. Harris

Kenneth Murray, Substitute Teacher, No 4 Luachies, North Harris ED6, b. Lewis

(Cirsty Campbell, 65, Formerly Teacher, No 23 East Tarbert, b. Harris)

BAYS (4)

Kenneth Mcdonald, 14, Pupil Teacher, No 5 Grosebay, b. Harris

Maggie Gillanders, 16, Pupil Teacher, Private House, Geocrab, b. Harris

(Annabella Gillanders, 52, Bible Woman, b. Trindon, Ross)

William Cook, 33, Certificated Teacher, School House, Ardslave, b. Rutherglen, Lanarks.

(Malcolm Morrison, 23, Teacher, Visitor, Crofter's house, Manish, b. Harris)

Donald J MacRae, 40, Public School Teacher, Finsbay, b. Applecross

WEST COAST (1)

Roderick Matheson, 55, Public School Teacher, Hamlets Scaristavore, b. Lochalsh

SOUTH (1)

John Macaskill, 22, Teacher (English), Private House, South Harris ED7, b. Harris

BERNERAY (1)

Donald Johnson, 40, Teacher, Borve, Bernera, b. North Uist

Annie Macaskill, 20, Assistant Teacher, Borve, Bernera, b. North Uist

As the 20^th anniversary of the 1872 Act approached, and 8 years after the sitting of the 'Napier Commission' this was the state of, well, State Education on the island. It will come as no surprise to readers who have read my earlier pieces charting the increasing dominance of Tarbert to see the number of teachers now residing in North Harris. The Bays area appears to have spawned several schools and, notably, a pair of 'Pupil Teachers' aged 14 and 16 who I am guessing were a form of Teaching Assistant recruited from within the ranks of the older students in a school? The need for such support can more easily be understood from the simple fact that in this year there were just a few less than 1200 'Scholars' recorded in the Census.