Alexander Darroch (1862-1924)

Alexander Darroch (1862-1924) held the Bell Chair of Education from 1903 to 1924.

He played a vital role in the major reorganization of teacher training in Scotland that took place in 1905. Hitherto, teacher training had been controlled and financed by the Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland, though their Edinburgh colleges had maintained close relations with the University (particularly encouraged by Simon Somerville Laurie (1829-1909), Darroch's predecessor). In 1905, the Scottish Education Department took training out of the churches' hands, recommending the creation of four Provinical Committees for the Training of Teachers connected to Scotland's four Universities (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Andrews). Darroch acted as Chairman of the Edinburgh Provincial Committee and and oversaw the introduction of a new system of training at the Edinburgh Provincial Training Centre which opened at Moray House in 1907. Close links were established between the University and Moray House. The Schoolmaster's Diploma established under Laurie was dropped in favour of a year's course of training at Moray House for University graduates. Arrangements were also made enabling students to take their training and University course concurrently, with certain university classes being recognized as an integral part of their training programme.

Darroch was also pivotal in establishing an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Education at Edinburgh University in 1915-16. Following his death in 1924, a decision was made to bring teacher training more firmly under university control by combining the role of Director of Studies at the Edinburgh Provincial Training Centre with the Bell Chair of Education. Godfrey Thomson (1881-1955) was jointly appointed to both posts in 1925, and the University's Eduation Department was transferred to Moray House.