Education Act 1496
Encyclopedia
The Education Act 1496 was an act of the Parliament of Scotland
(1496 c. 87) that ordered the schooling of those who would administer the legal system at the local level. This made schooling compulsory for the first time in Scotland
. The intent was to improve the administration of justice nationwide and to make the legal system more responsive at the local level. The act states:
The act was passed by the Parliament
at Edinburgh
on 13 June 1496 in the reign of James IV
, and in the nineteenth century it remained in effect as one of the principal Statutes for the management of schools under Scots law
.
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
(1496 c. 87) that ordered the schooling of those who would administer the legal system at the local level. This made schooling compulsory for the first time in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The intent was to improve the administration of justice nationwide and to make the legal system more responsive at the local level. The act states:
- all barons and substantial freeholderFreehold (Scots law)In certain jurisdictions, including England and Scotland, a freehold is the ownership of real property, being the land and all immovable structures attached to such land. This is opposed to a leasehold in which the property reverts to the owner of the land after the lease period has expired...
s shall put their eldest sons and heirs into school from the age of 8 or 9. - these shall remain in grammar schools under competent instruction until they have perfect LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. - They shall next spend 3 years at the schools of artThe artsThe arts are a vast subdivision of culture, composed of many creative endeavors and disciplines. It is a broader term than "art", which as a description of a field usually means only the visual arts. The arts encompass visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts – music, theatre, dance and...
and lawScots lawScots law is the legal system of Scotland. It is considered a hybrid or mixed legal system as it traces its roots to a number of different historical sources. With English law and Northern Irish law it forms the legal system of the United Kingdom; it shares with the two other systems some...
. - the purpose of this education is:
- that they have knowledge and understanding of the laws, for the benefit of justice throughout the realm.
- that those who become sheriffs or judges will have the knowledge to do justice.
- to eliminate the need of the poor to seek redress from the king's principal auditors for each small injury.
- anyone who fails to do so without a lawful excuse shall pay the king the sum of £20 ScotsPound ScotsThe pound Scots was the national unit of currency in the Kingdom of Scotland before the country entered into political and currency union with the Kingdom of England in 1707 . It was introduced by David I, in the 12th century, on the model of English and French money, divided into 20 shillings...
.
The act was passed by the Parliament
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 13 June 1496 in the reign of James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
, and in the nineteenth century it remained in effect as one of the principal Statutes for the management of schools under Scots law
Scots law
Scots law is the legal system of Scotland. It is considered a hybrid or mixed legal system as it traces its roots to a number of different historical sources. With English law and Northern Irish law it forms the legal system of the United Kingdom; it shares with the two other systems some...
.