Jamaica College

From Jamaica Wiki

Jamaica College is one of the most respectable high schools in Jamaica. It is a boys' school only and is located at 189 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica.

Jamaicans know the school for its traditions in academic studies and sports. Some of the most important and famous people of Jamaica were students at the Jamaica College including the current Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, former Prime Minister Michael Manley, and Norman Manley, father of Michael Manley and the founder of the People's National Party.

History of Jamaica College

The original name of Jamaica College was the Drax Free School. It was founded in 1789 by Charles Drax, planter of the parish of St. Ann.

Charles Drax came from Barbados in 1721. He lived in Jamaica. After his death it turned out that he left money in his will. The money was meant to be used for opening a charity school. However several years passed because of legal procedures that took quite a while. Finally in 1806 Walton Pen was bought for the site of the school. The next year was the one in which the school got its name with an act of Legislature. The name given was "The Jamaica Free School".

Almost 75 years later the school had its named changed again. The governor, Sir Anthony Musgrave renamed the school from Jamaica Free School to The Jamaica High School. Moreover the school had to come over the jurisdiction of the Jamaica School Commission. The principal of the school was also changed. The new headmaster was Reverend (later Archdeacon) William Simms. Another significant change in the school's organization was that it moved its premises – from Walton Pen to the Barbican Great House. The classes were executed there until 1885. On 9th July, the same year the school building was ready and it was moved to its current address - 189 Old Hope Road.

The Jamaica High School was a school only until 1890 when the college opened. It was part of the same school and known as the University College. Until 1902 there were two separate names for the school's units. In 1902 one name was given - the name Jamaica College.

Jamaica College Today

Jamaica College is still functioning today. It is a day college school that is attended by boys from around the country. The college has developed a stable and respectable tradition in the academic studies as well as in its athlete programs. Many of its students, the Old Boys, are part of different fields of the Jamaican society - religion, politics, business and professional services.

Jamaica College Trivia

The motto of the Jamaica College is: Floreat collegium, fervet opus in campis. The English translation of the motto is "May the college flourish, work is burning in the field".

An interesting fact is that the Jamaica College is the third oldest High School in Jamaica.

Some of the well known members of Jamaican society were students at the Jamaica College. The cricketer Jimmy Adams, RJR & TVJ personalities Simon Crosskill and Derrick Wilks are among these famous people.