Treasure Island Project Launched

At the end of last session, the Rector suggested that the Academy should come up with its own version of the hugely popular “One City – One Book” idea that originated in Seattle, whereby everyone in a community is encouraged to read the same book over the same period of time.  It was decided that we would launch our own One Book – One Dollar project, with Treasure Island emerging as strongest contender for a Scottish book that would appeal to the widest possible range of pupils from P1 – FVI, as well as to staff and parents. The idea of a school, rather than a city, running such a project has already generated real interest, as well as offers of support from the organisers of the UNESCO City of Literature project.

Several classes, mainly in the Junior School and Forms I-II, will, of course, read Treasure Island as part of the English curriculum, but in addition throughout the current session there will be a focus in all departments on some aspect of this classic book; its themes are accessible and interesting, while its setting in a historical period and on sea and land also lends itself to many different forms of study. 

Already some very imaginative links with the book have been made: the Form I disco in September took Pirates as its theme, while National Poetry Day was marked this year by English classes hanging, not messages in bottles, but poems chosen by the school community from the branches of the celebrated Poet-tree outside the Gibson Building.  Selecting from the many events and classes planned for all year groups later this session, gives a flavour and sense of the scale of the project.  Form II chemists will, according to Dr Beveridge, “effect by means most devious and cunning” what centuries of alchemists failed to do, and make gold doubloons from base metal.  History classes will focus on modern day piracy and the trade in human cargo, while the Classics department will explore with pupils the presence of classical references and Latinate vocabulary in key passages in the text.  Prep Schools pupils can expect to attend the traditional June picnic with Teddy Bears dressed in pirate finery, while the Biology department promises a treasure hunt as part of the annual Inchcailloch trip.  Musical events, themed charity events, creative writing trips, quizzes, performances and displays will also involve many pupils at every stage of the school.

By the end of the year everyone in the Dollar community will have been touched by Stevenson’s masterpiece in some way.