Grangepans
At the meeting of the Kirk Session of Carriden on 23 Sept 1694
“It being complained by the Schoolemaster that one John Currie who was doctor to the publick schoole and had gathered a schoole at Grangepans to the great prejudice of the said publick schoole. David Jamiesone & Alexander Duncan are ordered to goe in the Sessions name & discharge him from keeping the schoole & to take the books from the children & put them out of doors & certifie to the said Currie if he offer againe to conveen them the Session will referre him to the Magrat.”
The office of doctor was given to the parochial schoolmater’s assistant who usually taught Latin or Greek. Evidently the meeting with him had little effect for on 30 Sept 1694 it was reported that
“Alexder Duncan & David Jamiesone reported their diligence in obeying the Session’s appointment in discharging John Currie his keeping of schoole & their putting forth the children, but that he had since convened his schoole and said he would keep it whether the minister & Session would or not. The Session therefore referred it to the Laird of Bonhard Baylie of the Regalitie of Borrowstounness to take such course with him as accord which the said Laird of Bonhard did in every point to the satisfaction of the Session.”
At that point Currie was offered an appointment to the school at Borrowstounness Parish by the Kirk Session there. However, he could not accept it till he got a certificate of good character from the Parish of Carriden. Worried that he might poach pupils from their school, the Carriden Session invited Currie to appear in front of them and
“John Currie, compearing, and craving a testificat to Borrowstounness, was refused the samen till he gave it under his hand that he should receive no children from this Parish of Carriden to Borrowstounness, where he had a call to be a schoolmaster, and to get two of the representatives there as caution for him to the effect above mentioned.”
The school at Grangepans was thus very short-lived.
Falkirk Local History Society 