Scheme of the Edinburgh Academy. [April I, 



202 



in bulk, to their wedging-in fast toge- 

 ther, or, in plainer language, " the break- 

 ing of all large or smooth stones, before 

 laying them on a road," was perfectly 

 understood and extensively practised, 

 and had been published and ably en- 

 forced in several publications, by writers 

 laudably intent on instructing the sur- 

 veyors of turnpike-roads, generally, to 

 do likewise, instead of expelling these 

 gentlemen, to make way for themselves, 

 their sons, or servile dependants. Those 

 who loll in carriages, or easily indulge 

 on their nags, receive consideration in 

 page G8, but the more humble pedes- 

 trians seem entirely forgot. O. S. 

 Feb. 6, 1824. 



For the Monthly Magazine. 



STATEMENT bj/ the DIRECTORS of the 



EDINBURGH ACADEMY, explanatoi~y of 

 the SCHEME of that institution. 



THE High School of Edinburgh is 

 now so crowded, as to interfere 

 materially with the right education of 

 the boys ; in consequence of which, 

 many persons have frequently been in- 

 duced to send their sons away from 

 home, or to private seminaries in Edin- 

 burgh. 



Urged by these considerations, some 

 gentlemen, in the month of June 1822, 

 brought forward a scheme for establish- 

 ing a great public school in the New 

 Town ; in which it was proposed that 

 funds should lie raised, to the amount of 

 12,000Z. by shares of 60/. each, to bear 

 interest, payable from a fee to be levied 

 from the pupils. It met with so favour- 

 able a reception, that in the course of a 

 few weeks nearly 9000Z. was subscribed. 

 Circumstances, to which it is not now 

 necessary to advert, suspended for some 

 months the execution of the plan; but, 

 in May 1823, a general meeting of the 

 subscribers took place, when it was 

 regularly organized; and it was at the 

 same time resolved to apply lo his 

 Majesty for a charter of incorporation 

 for the shareholders, under the name of 

 the "Edinburgh Academy." 



The building is situated in a field to 

 the north of the New Town, and within 

 ten minutes' walk from the most distant 

 part of it. It stands in an area of nearly 

 four English acres, surrounded by a 

 wall, with a covered way along a part 

 of the boundary, to shelter the boys 

 while at play in wet weather. The 

 whole building is to be heated by warm 

 air, and ventilated, according to the plan 

 of Mr. Sylvester, of Derby, which has 

 been found to succeed pcrftclly in many 



extensive buildings.— The writing class 

 room is sixty feet by thirty- three; the 

 rector's class, twenty by sixteen; the 

 rector's class room, fitly by thirty ; and 

 four class rooms, forty by thirty. The 

 public hall, seventy by fifty. 



The alterations upon the present sys- 

 tem of instruction in the High School 

 are these: — 



1. A more extended instruction in 

 Greek, by all tlie masters. 



2. In addition to the four under-raasters, 

 a master for English, who shall have a 

 pure Engli>li accent: the mere circum- 

 stance of his being born within the boiui- 

 dary of England, not to be considered in- 

 dispensable. The object of this appoint- 

 ment is to endeavour to remedy a defect in 

 the education of boys in Edinburgh, who 

 are sutfered to neglect the cultivation of 

 their native langua-je and literature during 

 the whole time that ihey attend the gram- 

 mar schools, and in most cases to a much 

 later period. It will be the duty of this 

 master to give instruction in reading, elo- 

 cution, andj^modern history. The chief 

 part of his time will be devoted to the 

 boys of the Ist and 2d Classes ; but he viill 

 also give instruction, during a portion of 

 each week, to all the other classes in suc- 

 cession. 



3. A regular attention to geography in 

 all the Classes. 



4. The writing master is to be bound to 

 provide assistants in proportion to the 

 number of his pupils, so that each teacher 

 shall not have more than thirty-tive boys 

 under his care at one time. 



5. Arithmetic is to be taught by a sepa- 

 rate master, who is to be a well-educated 

 mathematician, and who is to provide 

 assistants, in like manner, in proportion to 

 the number of his pupils. 



6. The boys of the highest Class are to 

 be carried as far in the elements of algebra 

 and geometry as their time and previous 

 knowledge will allow. 



Every morning, at the first assembling 

 of the school, a prayer will be said by 

 each master in his own Class-room. 

 1st Class — 

 9 to 11, English 3 days a-week, say,Tues- 

 day, Thursday, 

 and Saturday. 

 9 to 10, do. do. Monday, Wed- 



nesday,&Friday 



10 toll. Writing do. do. 



11 to I before 12, in the play-ground. 



i before 12 to | bef. 2, Latin, every day. 

 ii to 3, English 3 times a-week— Mon- 

 day, Wednesday, and Friday. 

 , Geography twice a-week, — Tues- 

 day and Thursday. 

 At this early age, play from eleven to 

 a quarter before twelve, and a relaxa- 

 tion of a quarter of an hour before going 

 into sciiool at two o'clock, is not more 



than 



