The early years of this century were of considerable significance in elementary education in Jamaica. The stringent measures recommended by the Education Commission of 1897-98 to reduce expenditure on education were implemented, following the severe economic depression of the 1890s. For providers of education the religious denominations and the government this was a period of soul searching and decision making. Drastically reduced budgets meant identifying and defining priorities. The colonial administrators into whose hands the fortunes of Jamaica's education system had been committed relentlessly searched for the most efficient method of achieving the goals of education as they perceived them.