Manning's School
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(Life without learning is death)
| Manning's School | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Thomas Manning Building | |
| Location | |
 | |
Beckford St. Western region , Jamaica | |
| Coordinates | 18°13′36″N 78°07′58″W / 18.22667°N 78.13278°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public school (government funded) |
| Motto | Vita sine litteris mors est (Life without learning is death) |
| Religious affiliation | Anglican |
| Established | 1738 |
| Founder | Thomas Manning (bequest) |
| School code | 10055[1] |
| Principal | Steve Gordon |
| Years offered | 7–13 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Age range | 10-19 |
| Enrolment | 1,686[1] (2018) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 17:1 |
| Language | English |
| Colours | Dark blue and light blue |
| Song | Dear Mannings School [Played to the tune of "The Londonderry Air"]. |
| Sports | Track and field, Football, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Swimming, Netball, Basketball, Chess |
| Website | www |
Manning's School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica, which started offering classes in 1738, is the oldest continuously operating high school in Jamaica. The school's motto is rendered in latin "Vita sine litteris mors est " its English translation being "Life without learning is death."
There is often debate whether Manning's or Wolmer's Trust School for Boys, one of the Wolmer's Schools[2] is the oldest in Jamaica or the oldest continuously operating high school in Jamaica. Thomas Manning (who bequeathed the land and initial funding for Manning's in 1710 ) did so before John Wolmer (who's will at his death, provided for the monies to fund Wolmer's in 1729). Manning's continued without ceasing since its doors were first opened, whilst Wolmer's record provides that for two years (1755-1757)[3] its doors were closed.
The history of the Manning's School dates back to a quarter of a century before the actual establishment of the institution, when in 1710, Thomas Manning, a Westmoreland planter, bequeathed a gift of land for the setting up of a free school in the parish of Westmoreland. The school was established in 1738 when the Jamaica Assembly passed an Act (11 Geo. II c. 9), after which the Free School was formally set up.[4][5][2]
In the 18th century, these schools originated from their benefactors’ concerns for the education of the country's poor, usually the children of poor whites, as there was no system in place for the education of the children of slaves.[2]
As the years progressed, the 20th Century led to the reorganization of the institution into a modern high school.[6]
Academics
| Year | Enrollment | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,686 | 17:1 |
| 2017 | 1,754 | 20:1 |
| 2016 | 1,717 | 20:1 |
| 2015 | 1,729 | 19:1 |
| 2014 | 1,743 | 19:1 |
| 2013 | 1,765 | 19:1 |
| 2012 | 1,754 | 19:1 |