The Wig-Maker's Son

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

The Wig-Maker's Son (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Lewis N Derrick 1988

1- 4 The 1st couple dance a petronella turn to face one another up and down the set and set; the 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4
5- 8 The 1st couple dance a petronella turn to end in second place on opposite sides, then 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples join hands on the sides and all set
9-12 Retaining hands to form arches, the 2nd woman, 1st man and 3rd woman advance and retire while, giving right shoulders to their own partners and passing under the arches, the 2nd man, 1st woman and 3rd man dance round them, all ending back on sidelines
13-16 The 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners once round by the right hand, the 1st couple end facing their first corners
17-24 The 1st couple set to their first corners, set to one another across the dance, set to their second corners, set to one another up and down the dance and with a petronella turn return to own sides in second place
25-32 The 2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts

Repeat having passed a couple

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Lewis N Derrick 2020)

Dance Information

This jig, The Wig-Maker's Son, was devised by Lewis Derrick to commemorate Andrew Bell (1753-1831), deviser of the Madras or Monitorial System of education and benefactor of Madras College, St Andrews.

Suggested tune: O Tell Name o' Wind and Rain.

Devised 1988, first published electronically 2020.

(Dance information from The McGhie Scottish Country Dance Sheets #23, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Lewis N Derrick)

Andrew Bell was born in 1753, the son of a wig-maker and local magistrate, studied mathematics and natural philosophy at the University of St Andrews. He was a distinguished Scottish educator and philanthropist best known for devising the Madras System of education, also known as the Monitorial System. This innovative pedagogical approach revolutionized how students were taught, particularly in large classes, and had a lasting impact on educational methods.

The Madras System, developed by Bell in the late 18th century, involved a cooperative learning model where more advanced students, called monitors, assisted the teacher in instructing their peers. This system aimed to efficiently educate a large number of students with limited resources, making education more accessible.

In addition to his pioneering work in education, Andrew Bell demonstrated his commitment to learning through philanthropy. He became a benefactor of Madras College in St Andrews, Scotland, contributing to the establishment and support of the educational institution. His dedication to providing quality education for students of all backgrounds left a lasting legacy.

Andrew Bell's Madras System, though met with some controversy in its time, influenced educational practices globally and inspired subsequent developments in pedagogy. His dual role as an educational innovator and benefactor of Madras College cements his place in the history of Scottish education, emphasizing the importance of accessible and collaborative learning methods. Andrew Bell passed away in 1831, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape educational philosophies and practices.

The Wig-Maker's Son, Andrew Bell, C. Turner, Mezzotint, c. 1825

Published in The McGhie Scottish Country Dance Sheets, Collection 3, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Lewis N Derrick.
This page uses content under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, along with original copyrighted content and excerpts from Wikipedia and other sources.
Text from this original Andrew Bell (educationalist) article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright (cropped) See page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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