THE

EDUCATIONAL RECORD.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

NORMAL COLLEGE-ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS.

On the evening of Thursday, the 4th of December, the committee of the Society held their usual half-yearly examination of the students. Robert Forster, Esq., presided, and was supported by a large number of members of the committee, and by the officers of the Institution. After a detailed examination of the papers, which had been previously prepared by the students, especially in the Holy Scriptures, history, the English language, mathematics, and the art of teaching, several of the students were called upon to illustrate practically the mode of giving collective lessons on the ordinary subjects of elementary instruction. The Principal of the College then presented to the committee a list showing the precise standing of each student in relation to the several departments of the College course; and the young men were subsequently addressed by the chairman and several members of the committee, on the duties and responsibilities which the majority of them were about to undertake as the masters of schools.

The annual examination for certificates of merit took place at the Normal College, in the Borough Road, on Tuesday, the 8th of December, and four following days. It was conducted by Matthew Arnold and James Laurie, Esqrs., her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools.

One hundred and fourteen students in residence were candidates for examination on the occasion. Of these, sixty-one were male and fiftythree were female students.

Twenty-seven masters of schools, and seven mistresses, also presented themselves for examination.

On the 15th of December, the examination of pupil-teachers, who have completed their term of apprenticeship, commenced under the same superintendence. The male and female candidates amounted to one hundred and eight. The successful candidates will be entitled to Queen's Scholarships.

VOL. IV.

The names of the candidates who may have succeeded at either of these examinations will be published in the Record, in April next.

Eighteen Queen's scholars of 1857 will remain as second year students; and the remainder have all, with one or two exceptions, been appointed to schools.

HOME OPERATIONS.

Northern District.—In addition to visits which Mr. Davis has paid to various places in Lancashire, he has been engaged in inspecting schools in Yorkshire, Westmoreland, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Leicestershire. He has paid sixty-nine visits to fifty-five different towns and villages, and inspected sixty-seven schools. Seventeen conferences have been held with Committees, with a view to the establishment of new schools, and the improvement of existing ones; and one public examination has been conducted,

Mr. Baxter's summary embraces the engagements of the last six months, during which time he has paid another visit of inspection to South Wales, and made a tour through Devon and Cornwall, visiting existing schools, and endeavouring in other ways to further the progress of education on the Society's principles. Some parts of Somerset, Dorset, Norfolk, and Essex, have also been visited by him for special purposes. He has made 117 visits to 105 towns and villages. One hundred and eighty-one schools have received 183 visits. He has also addressed twenty-four public meetings, and conducted seventeen public examinations of schools.

Mr. Roberts has paid twenty-nine visits to schools in twenty-one towns and villages in South Wales, either with a view to promote the establishment of new schools, or to sustain and examine those already in operation. He reports a greatly increased interest in the subject of education throughout his district; and a growing desire on the part of the friends of education to place themselves in communication with the Society, and to receive the visits of her Majesty's inspectors.

Mr. Milne's tour of inspection has been confined to the counties of Sussex, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, and Middlesex, in all of which he has made visits for the purpose of examination, or of conference with the committees and friends of schools.

PLYMOUTH RAGGED SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.-These schools are situated in Catte Street, Octagon Street, and Foundry Ope. The former has an industrial department attached. About 900 children are, in these schools, brought under instruction and discipline daily. The schools are wholly supported by voluntary contributions. Being in much need of a better supply of school materials, the Society's Committee have, since their Inspector's visit, made a grant of ten pounds worth of schoolbooks, &c., to the local committee, at one-half the reduced price. The school in Octagon Street is a mixed school, under a female teacher, and is in a very satisfactory state of discipline and instruction for a school of this class.

BIDEFORD.-Besides an inspection of the two very promising schools in this town, a public tea was held in the Wesleyan School-room, after which, Mr. Baxter and some gentlemen of the locality addressed a numerously attended and enthusiastic meeting of the children's parents.

WAREHAM.-A public examination of this yearly improving school was conducted by the Society's Inspector, and with results of the most satisfactory character. The state of the school did honour to the industry of the children, the perseverance of the master, Mr. Wise, and the unabated interest in the school shown by the Committee.

FRAMPTON COTTERELL.-Aninteresting meeting was held in the school-room in this village to receive the report of a committee of "Old Scholars," who had generously undertaken to raise funds toward the liquidation of a debt of twenty pounds, which had long burdened the committee of management. Mr. Dunster, an old scholar, announced that about fifteen pounds had been obtained. A large number of persons took tea in the school-room; after which, a meeting was held under the presidency of Robert Charleton, Esq., of Bristol, and addressed by Mr. Baxter and other gentlemen. The movement created considerable interest in the place, and certainly afforded a valuable suggestion to other and more wealthy neighbourhoods.

HEIGHAM, NEAR NORWICH.-At these schools some changes have lately been effected in relation to the needle-work, in consequence of the suggestions made in an article on the subject inserted in the Educational Record of October, 1856. A lady, who devotes her time with most praiseworthy diligence to the improvement of the female portion of this school, thus states the result:—

"The plan of giving the children part of the proceeds of the work is found to answer very well, and they are thereby stimulated to do their best. One little girl, who was invariably very late at school, now comes in much better time; whilst the many petitions that are made for 'pay-work,' show how the children value it. One-third of the proceeds is the proportion they receive. On Friday afternoons the girls are allowed to bring their own work, either plain' or 'fancy.' In many cases the embroidery or crochet is now left at home, that the time may not be lost from the 'pay-work.' Those girls who cannot work well enough for such work, have different articles in calico provided for them, which, when made up, are sold to the parents at cost price, and in many cases they are most thankfully purchased."

LOWESTOFT.-Since the former visit of the Society's Inspector to this school, the school-room has been re-floored with board, and furnished with new fittings, which minister greatly to the comfort of both teachers and children. An excellent meeting was held here, in the school-room of the Congregational Chapel, at which the Rev. Francis Cunningham, the vicar, was present; also the Rev. Henry More, the minister of the chapel, and most, if not all, the masters of the public schools in the town. As the question of school fees is often one that the Society's Inspectors have to discuss with local committees, who are sometimes afraid to act upon their advice and assurances after all, the following statements in relation to this school will be read with some interest by school managers:

"In a population of 8,000, there are no fewer than three National or Church schools, and the British school. The National schools are exceedingly well conducted, are under Government inspection, and have very low rates of payment-in fact, one of them is as nearly as possible a free school; another charges only one shilling and sixpence a quarter; while the third charges a merely nominal sum. The committee of the British school, fearing that these low fees would injuriously affect their school, determined to lower their payment to a penny a week for the majority of their scholars. The effect of this was very soon seen in the withdrawing, by many, from what they denominated "the penny school." After giving the plan a fair trial, it was resolved again to alter the fees, and to fix them at threepence, fourpence, and sixpence a week, the two latter sums being paid by the junior monitors and the highest classes respectively. The beneficial effect of this decision was almost instantly felt. Instead of an average attendance of 64, it soon rose to 80, then to 90, and recently it has been 95. The income, under the "penny" system, was very trifling, now it reaches nearly £70 a year. Then, the committee were always burdened with difficulty, now they are able to meet all expenses.

"The moral effect of the 'graduated' scale is seen in the emulation that is excited, and the eagerness evinced by the juniors to enter either the monitors' or the highest class. A class of boys of

superior personal and domestic habits find their way into the school, and these, coming into contact with those moving in a humbler sphere, raise the quality of the latter, with little, if any, detriment to themselves.

"There are, at present, on the books nineteen boys belonging to the highest class, who, if able, are instructed in the higher branches of arithmetic, drawing, practical geometry, mechanics, algebra, &c., &c. In the monitor's class, there are twenty-five boys who are allowed to take most of the work of the first class. The rest of the school pay threepence weekly, and all are urged to press forward to reach the highest class.

"The applications for admission into these upper classes are generally more numerous than can be entertained. Many of the parents wish their children to enter them before they are really able, whilst the fact of their inability frequently acts as a stimulus to the lads to qualify themselves for promotion. "The higher classes prepare lessons at home, which is considered by many of them a very great privilege, whilst of its utility not a word need be said. The experience of seven years' working of the 'graduated scale' of payments leads the master emphatically to state that he would not, on any account, advocate any other."

GREAT YARMOUTH.-A public examination of this excellent British school was conducted by the Society's Inspector, in the presence of a respectable audience, and the results were most satisfactory to all present. This school has risen, under Mr. Tomkins' able superintendence, from a very feeble and depressed state to its present high efficiency; and reflects on him, and on gentlemen of the town who have sustained and encouraged him, the highest honour. A public examination of this school, in the presence of the body of the parents, in some building sufficiently commodious, is a debt due both to the parents and to the town, which ought to be shown at frequent intervals, the sources of their moral strength. This was the first public examination held after an interval of about eight years.

LYNN REGIS.-A public examination of these schools has recently been conducted by Mr. Baxter, in which Mr. Croad, the master, and several gentlemen present, took part. The proceedings left only a feeling of great satisfaction on the minds of all present. No public examination of the schools had been held for nearly five years previously; but during that time, the boys' school particularly has greatly improved, especially under the present master. The examination took place in the Music Hall of the Athenæum, and the assemblage was computed at 700 persons, besides the children. EAST DEREHAM.-This school, which was found in a very low state by the Society's Inspector, in February last, has since then been placed in connexion with the "Com. mittee of Council," and under the superintendence of a certificated master, Mr. Whitehead, under whose able management it has undergone a great revolution, and promises to rise to a state of thorough efficiency. The school-room is now full, the discipline is good, and the moral tone pervading the school very healthful. After an inspection of the school, a public meeting was held in the Corn Exchange, at which, addresses were delivered by Mr. Tillett, of Norwich, and Mr. Baxter. Mr. Wilson, of Scarning, ably presided. The meeting was a most effective and enthusiastic one, and indicated the greatness of the change in public feeling and opinion which the operations of a good school are capable of effecting, even in a comparatively short time.

WILLINGHAM..-This school was established a year ago. Since that time 200 children have been admitted, of whom 144 still remain on the books, and 110 in attendance. The income of the school has been £103, and the outlay £104 9s. 2§d. A tea meeting has lately been held, the provisions for which were kindly given by friends of education in this village, and the sum of £15 realized for the school funds. At the public meeting, Edward Ball, Esq., M.P. for the county, presided, and effectively addressed the assembly; and Thomas Coote, Esq., of Fenstanton, also rendered a similar service. The master, Mr. Pegler, says:

"We have opened an elocution class, which meets every Wednesday evening in the school-room for the children of the upper sections, and for any of those who have left school from those sections. The children are very fond of reciting pieces of poetry.

"We have also started a MS, Magazine in connexion with this class, the papers of which are written by the scholars, and it appears to work very well at present."

ON PRIZE AND CERTIFICATE SCHEMES.-No. II. It is manifest that the requirements discussed in our last paper on this subject are not the only ones on which the award of a school certificate ought to depend. Other conditions, not inferior in importance, ought also to be fulfilled, and among these, good conduct is the most prominent. If certificates were granted on the ground of a successful examination alone, the scheme would soon tell unfavourably on the order of the schools, and go far to weaken the authority of the teachers. No child ought, in fact, to be admitted to the examination who does not first entitle himself to a certificate from the master of the school, testifying that his behaviour has been orderly and satisfactory during the period of his education; and the signature of the master to this effect ought to be, in all cases, appended to the testimonial itself. Incidentally, we should never lose sight of the importance of increasing the influence and raising the social status of the well-qualified schoolmaster. Unless this is done, we can never hope to have the ranks of the profession supplied with superior and honourable men. On this ground alone, therefore, it becomes desirable that the teacher's testimony to the obedience and good behaviour of a scholar should be an important and indispensable element in the certificate; but there are other reasons, yet more valid, affecting the children themselves. To them, the acquirement of habits of order, system, uniform adherence to fixed rule, and submission to authority, are even of more consequence than the acquirement of any amount of history or geography which can be subjected to the examination test.

All are aware of the extreme difficulty of setting up any test of religious attainment, which will not be felt as a grievance by some, and be supposed to interfere with the rights of conscience; but great as this difficulty is, it must be met and not evaded. We cannot afford to try the experiment of omitting scriptural knowledge from the list of qualifications to be absolutely required in every case; for it is certain that to omit any department of knowledge from an examination scheme would be seriously to discourage the study of it; and the inevitable tendency of any public or official act which does not recognise the necessity of religious teaching, will be to cause that teaching, if not to be disregarded, at least to take a much lower place in the estimation of teachers, children, and parents, than it does at present.

At present, her Majesty's Inspectors, when examining any school not in connexion with the Church of England, are not authorised to test the religious teaching; but are bound to require, both in the case of the pupil-teachers and in that of the school generally, the formal testimony of the managers that they are satisfied with the religious instruction. This plan has been found on the whole to work well. It certainly does not err on the side of too great strictness in demanding religious knowledge, or of interference with religious convictions. But such as the plan is, it represents the minimum demand which any certificate scheme can make without doing positive mischief; and it is indispensable that a certificate of satisfactory attainment in biblical and religious subjects should be signed by a clergyman, a minister, or other trustworthy and competent authority, before any candidate is admitted to a certificate examination, and should either be subsequently appended to the certificate, or form part of the document itself.

The principle which we laid down at starting suggests another inquiry of considerable importance ::-"From what schools should children be permitted to present themselves?" Should candidates be received freely from every place of instruction bearing the name of an elementary school, or only from certain schools which are certified to be of a particular character ? The answer to this question does not lie on the surface. It would seem, at first, unfair to exclude a child from the advantages of a certificate, provided he had fulfilled all other conditions, merely on the ground that he came from an ill-taught and ill-managed school. But there are two