A History of Giggleswick School from its Foundation, 1499 to 1912Bell, Edward Allen
History
A History of Giggleswick School from its Foundation, 1499 to 1912
Bell, Edward Allen
Giggleswick School (Giggleswick, England) -- History
The question of free education at the School was settled finally. Every
boy admitted into the School had to pay an entrance fee not exceeding £3
and a tuition fee not less than £12 or more than £24. Fees for boarding
in the Hostel were not to exceed £45. Certain exemptions from tuition
fees could be granted as the reward of merit, and in a few instances the
boarding fees might be remitted for similar reasons and to a limited
extent. If the state of the Trust Funds permitted, a leaving
Exhibition, to be called The Giggleswick Exhibition, might be awarded
for the purpose of fitting the holder for some profession or calling. It
was to be given on the results of an examination in Mathematics, Natural
Science or Modern Languages.
The most important clause in the scheme was that which inaugurated the
Shute Exhibitions. Giggleswick had been founded as a Free School, and
the fundamental alteration of its character had been vigorously opposed
by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood for close upon ten years. They
were fighting a losing battle. It was clear that no school could
maintain the efficiency of its education without the imposition of fees.
One of its two original characteristics must go. Either the education
must cease to be free, or it must lose its former liberal element. For
three hundred years and more a Grammar School education had been such
that by its very breadth it endeavoured to fit men for whatsoever walk
in life they intended to adopt. But in the nineteenth century education
was becoming more expensive, and the old ideals could not be maintained
at the old cost. It is always an odious task to change the character of
a benefaction, and to deprive people of long-standing privileges, but on
the other hand it is essential to look at the matter from a different
standpoint. Did the imposition of fees rob many boys of the chance of an
education by which they were likely to profit? The answer is almost
certainly in the negative. That there were some few to whom a higher
education would be a gain is equally certain, and for these provision
was made. The bequests of Josias Shute had been made in order to enable
poor scholars to go up to the University, and for two hundred years the
money was used in this way. But in 1872 it was diverted. It was
henceforth to be applied to the payment of the tuition fees of such boys
as had for not less than three years been educated at one or other of
the Public Elementary Schools in the Ancient Parish of Giggleswick, and
who should be deserving of it. These boys were to be called Shute
Exhibitioners. The change has limited the numbers of boys from the
neighbourhood who have been educated at the School, but the results have
been excellent. Many Shute Exhibitioners have been enabled by this help
to fit themselves for various positions in life, in which they have
afterwards distinguished themselves, and it is improbable that any have
been kept back by their failure to gain an Exhibition. The Governors
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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