The Mackay School, a

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

an school located in Reñaca, Region of Valparaiso,

. Of Scottish origin; it was founded in 1857 by Scottish immigrants. It is considered one of the best academic institutions in the Valparaiso region. Currently it only educates male students.

History

The Mackay School was founded in 1857 as The Valparaíso Artizan School, with the aim to make available quality education for the children of English, American and especially Scottish craftsmen of limited resources who worked in the factories and railroads of Valparaíso during the middle of the 19th century. The school was first located in the "Cerro Alegre" area of

Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...

. One of the founders of the school was Scot Peter Mackay, who was also the first headmaster. The school had a spectacular welcome, showing why more teachers were needed. One that arrived to reinforce Mackay was George Sutherland. By 1866, the institution counted with more than 140 students. Another educator that arrived was Thomas Somerscales, who was contracted as an arts teacher. Until then, only students who spoke English were accepted. But this tradition would be broken in 1871, when opening the first course for Chilean children who did not speak the English language.

Others

The purpose of creating the school was to provide a suitable education for the children of the English, the American and especially for those of the Scottish craftsmen who worked in the railway workshops in Valparaíso during the midst of the 19th century. Then, "The Valparaíso Artizian School Society" was put together. Mr. Peter Mackay, a teacher in Glasgow, Scotland, accepted the post of headmaster and moved to Valparaíso, arriving on 8 October in the year 1857. As the school grew in number, an assistant teacher was required. Mr. George Sutherland arrived to Valparaíso from the "Moray House Training College", Edinburgh. Towards the year 1866, the school’s average student number was 180. Mr. Thomas Somerscales was hired as an Arts teacher and he taught for almost 20 years. Parallel to his job at the school, he taught private lessons of painting and drawing. It was not until 1871 that the first class for Chilean students, with no knowledge of English, was opened.

Notable alumni

* Edmundo González Robles, Former Commander in Chief of the

Chilean Navy The Chilean Navy ( es, Armada de Chile) is the naval warfare service branch of the Chilean Armed Forces. It is under the Ministry of National Defense. Its headquarters are at Edificio Armada de Chile, Valparaiso. History Origins and the War ...

Alastair MacGregor Martin Alastair MacGregor Martin is a former rugby union international who represented Chile in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was noted as one of the finest players in Chile and as such was selected to play for a World XV against Argentina in 1980. ...

, rugby union international, captain of Chile and member of 1980

World XV A World XV is a rugby union team organised on an unofficial, ''ad hoc'' basis and typically composed of invited players from various countries. Several World XVs have been arranged by various bodies, often to take part in celebration and testimoni ...

References

https://books.google.com/books?id=MppYDwAAQBAJ&dq=English+athletic+mackay+and+sutherland+school&pg=PT99

External links

The Mackay School

The Student's Weekly

Association of British Schools of Chile

International Baccalaureate Organization
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