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Caribbean Islands
Index
Before the middle of the nineteenth century, education
throughout the British Caribbean consisted of three types:
education abroad on private initiative; education in the islands in
exclusive schools designed for local whites lacking the resources
for a foreign education; and education for the academically able of
the intermediate group of nonwhites.
The wealthy planters generally sent their children abroad,
mainly to Britain, but a surprisingly large number went to study in
British North America. As early as 1720, Judah Morris, a Jew born
in Jamaica, was a lecturer in Hebrew at Harvard College. Alexander
Hamilton, born in Nevis in 1755, attended King's College (later
Columbia University), where his political tracts attracted the
attention of George Washington. Other students attended such
colleges as the College of William and Mary in Virginia and the
College of Philadelphia.
Indigent whites attended local grammar schools founded by
charitable bequests in the eighteenth century, such as Codrington
College and Harrison College in Barbados and Wolmer's, Rusea's,
Beckford and Smith's, and Manning's schools in Jamaica.
Slaves and their offspring were given little more than
religious instruction. Indeed, in 1797 a law in Barbados made it
illegal to teach reading and writing to slaves. In the early
nineteenth century, the endowment from the Mico Trust--originally
established in 1670 to redeem Christian slaves in the Barbary
States of North Africa--opened a series of schools for blacks and
free nonwhite pupils throughout the Caribbean and three teachertraining colleges--Mico in Antigua and Jamaica and Codrington in
Barbados.
After 1870 there was a mini-revolution in public education
throughout the Caribbean. This coincided with the establishment of
free compulsory public elementary education in Britain and in
individual states of the United States. A system of free public
primary education and limited secondary education became generally
available in every territory, and an organized system of teacher
training and examinations was established.
Nevertheless, the main thrust of public education in the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries did not come from the
local government, but rather, from the religious community.
Competing Protestant denominations--the Church of England, the
Baptists, the Moravians, the Wesleyans, and the Presbyterians--and
the Jesuits operated a vast system of elementary and secondary
schools. At the end of the nineteenth century, the churches
monopolized elementary education in Jamaica and Barbados and ran a
majority of the primary schools in Trinidad, Grenada, and Antigua.
The most outstanding secondary schools--St. George's College,
Kingston College, Jamaica College, Calabar High School, and the
York Castle High School in Jamaica; Harrison College, Codrington
College, the Lodge School, and the Queens College in Barbados; and
Queen's College, St. Mary's, and Naparima in Trinidad--as well as
the principal grammar schools in the Bahamas, Antigua, St. Kitts,
and Grenada owe their origins to the religious denominations. Each
territory had a board of education, which supervised both
government and religious schools. Government assistance slowly
increased until by the middle of the twentieth century the state
eventually gained control over all forms of education. Although far
from perfect--most colonies still spent more on prisons than on
schools--public education fired the ambitions of the urban poor.
Based on the British system--even to the use of British
textbooks and examinations--the colonial Caribbean educational
system was never modified to local circumstances. Nevertheless, it
created a cadre of leaders throughout the region whose strong sense
of local identity and acute knowledge of British political
institutions served the region well in the twentieth century.
Data as of November 1987
Education
Before the middle of the nineteenth century, education
throughout the British Caribbean consisted of three types:
education abroad on private initiative; education in the islands in
exclusive schools designed for local whites lacking the resources
for a foreign education; and education for the academically able of
the intermediate group of nonwhites.
The wealthy planters generally sent their children abroad,
mainly to Britain, but a surprisingly large number went to study in
British North America. As early as 1720, Judah Morris, a Jew born
in Jamaica, was a lecturer in Hebrew at Harvard College. Alexander
Hamilton, born in Nevis in 1755, attended King's College (later
Columbia University), where his political tracts attracted the
attention of George Washington. Other students attended such
colleges as the College of William and Mary in Virginia and the
College of Philadelphia.
Indigent whites attended local grammar schools founded by
charitable bequests in the eighteenth century, such as Codrington
College and Harrison College in Barbados and Wolmer's, Rusea's,
Beckford and Smith's, and Manning's schools in Jamaica.
Slaves and their offspring were given little more than
religious instruction. Indeed, in 1797 a law in Barbados made it
illegal to teach reading and writing to slaves. In the early
nineteenth century, the endowment from the Mico Trust--originally
established in 1670 to redeem Christian slaves in the Barbary
States of North Africa--opened a series of schools for blacks and
free nonwhite pupils throughout the Caribbean and three teachertraining colleges--Mico in Antigua and Jamaica and Codrington in
Barbados.
After 1870 there was a mini-revolution in public education
throughout the Caribbean. This coincided with the establishment of
free compulsory public elementary education in Britain and in
individual states of the United States. A system of free public
primary education and limited secondary education became generally
available in every territory, and an organized system of teacher
training and examinations was established.
Nevertheless, the main thrust of public education in the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries did not come from the
local government, but rather, from the religious community.
Competing Protestant denominations--the Church of England, the
Baptists, the Moravians, the Wesleyans, and the Presbyterians--and
the Jesuits operated a vast system of elementary and secondary
schools. At the end of the nineteenth century, the churches
monopolized elementary education in Jamaica and Barbados and ran a
majority of the primary schools in Trinidad, Grenada, and Antigua.
The most outstanding secondary schools--St. George's College,
Kingston College, Jamaica College, Calabar High School, and the
York Castle High School in Jamaica; Harrison College, Codrington
College, the Lodge School, and the Queens College in Barbados; and
Queen's College, St. Mary's, and Naparima in Trinidad--as well as
the principal grammar schools in the Bahamas, Antigua, St. Kitts,
and Grenada owe their origins to the religious denominations. Each
territory had a board of education, which supervised both
government and religious schools. Government assistance slowly
increased until by the middle of the twentieth century the state
eventually gained control over all forms of education. Although far
from perfect--most colonies still spent more on prisons than on
schools--public education fired the ambitions of the urban poor.
Based on the British system--even to the use of British
textbooks and examinations--the colonial Caribbean educational
system was never modified to local circumstances. Nevertheless, it
created a cadre of leaders throughout the region whose strong sense
of local identity and acute knowledge of British political
institutions served the region well in the twentieth century.
Data as of November 1987
- Caribbean Islands-Historical Background
- Caribbean Islands-Prosperity and Government Centralization, 1974-81
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Turks and Caicos Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 7 - Strategic and Regional Security Perspectives
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-A Regional Security System
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Other Third World Relations
- Caribbean Islands-SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: St - Christopher and Nevis ST - CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS
- Caribbean Islands-The Penal System
- Caribbean Islands-The Soviet Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Colonial Heritage HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Antigua and Barbuda ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
- Caribbean Islands-The Public Security Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Political Systems
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Changes in the Social Base of Political Power POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Agricultural Sector
- Caribbean Islands-The Barbados Defence Force
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-The Police
- Caribbean Islands-The Robinson Government
- Caribbean Islands-United States Preeminence
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Energy
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-POLITICAL TRADITIONS
- Caribbean Islands-THE STRATEGIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-Industrial Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-THE COLONIAL PERIOD
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Communist Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Natural Gas
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Incidence of Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Barbados BARBADOS
- Caribbean Islands-The Road to Independence
- Caribbean Islands-PREFACE
- Caribbean Islands -CHAPTER 3 - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-World War II
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreword
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Postwar Strategic Vacuum
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Regional Security Threats, 1970-81
- Caribbean Islands-Controversial Security Issues
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Assistance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 4 - The Windward Islands and Barbados
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Banking, Financial Services, and Currency
- Caribbean Islands-HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, 1800-1960
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Williams Era, 1981-86
- Caribbean Islands-The Armed Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 6 - The Northern Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Finance and Banking
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: CAYMAN ISLANDS BRITISH DEPENDENCIES: THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: MONTSERRAT
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation, Communications, and Electricity
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Petroleum and Asphalt
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Pre-European Population HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: The Bahamas THE BAHAMAS
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Dominica DOMINICA
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Trade and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 1 - Regional Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Organizations
- Caribbean Islands-Revenues
- Caribbean Islands-THE REGIONAL SECURITY SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Construction
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-ISLANDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: ANGUILLA
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-INTRODUCTION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Current Strategic Considerations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Narcotics Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Petrochemicals
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Emancipation Societies
- Caribbean Islands-The West Indies Federation, 1957-62
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States, Britain, and Canada FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Precursors of Independence
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-The Criminal Justice System
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Economic Policy and Management
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Political Unrest and Economic Troubles, 1970-73
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 5 - The Leeward Islands
- Caribbean Islands -Chapter 2 - Jamaica
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-The Sugar Revolutions and Slavery
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Cuban Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Increased Role of the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation and Communications
- Caribbean Islands-Country profile: Grenada GRENADA
- Caribbean Islands-Iron and Steel
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Postwar Federation Efforts
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands-Consolidation and Economic Hardship, 1962-69
- Caribbean Islands-Patterns of Development
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
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