Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PARCHMENT, n. Also pairchment (Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 38), paerchment (Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St. Patrick I. v.). Sc. forms and usage: a parchment certificate issued to a qualified teacher in a state school on which comments on his proficiency were annually recorded by the School Inspectorate, and which served in fact as an authorisation to teach Under modern regulations a qualified teacher serves for two years on probation, after which, if his record is satisfactory, his appointment is made permanent and he is then given his parchment.Sc. 1910 J. Kerr Sc. Education 200:
Many teachers who had not dreamt of becoming certificated were induced to aim at and obtain the coveted parchment. . . . A teacher qualified to serve in a state-aided school received a parchment certificate, on which an entry as to his practical skill was annually recorded. Such entries have for some years been discontinued.Sc. 1946 A. J. Belford E.I.S. Centenary Handbook 427, 55:
Teacher's Parchment. . . The teacher's school was examined annually after the granting of the Certificate of Merit, and on that parchment H.M. Inspector entered a report.
