PREFACE. IN consequence of recent occurrences, connected with National Education throughout England and Wales, it has become necessary to furnish the friends of the Church, and of religious instruction, with a full statement of the prolonged negotiations which have been carrying on, for years past, between the Government of this country and the National Society. With this view, the following Correspondence is now offered to the public. The chief subjects treated of are, first, the proposed grant from Government to the National Society, for a Training Institution; second, the application to Government for a site in the neighbourhood of the Society's Central School, at Westminster; third, Sunday-schools; fourth, the inspection of National Schools by inspectors ecclesiastically appointed; fifth, a similar inspection by persons appointed by the State. 1. It will be seen (page 1), that in 1835, the sum of 10,000l. was voted by Parliament for the erection of Model-schools: that the Society, in the name of the Church, advanced a claim, without delay, during the same year, to a portion of this grant: that they returned answers to no less than fourteen queries, addressed to them, upon the subject of training teachers, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, from whom they received an assurance (page 3), that the subject of Model-schools "was at present before him, and would receive his best attention :" that (letter ii.) during two years and a half, the attention of the Minister was repeatedly drawn to the subject, by earnest verbal appeals from the then Secretary to the National Society: that their Lordships at length stated (letter v.) their opinion, "that the erection of Model-schools, by both the National and the British and Foreign School Societies, would greatly tend to add to the efficiency of their several establishments: and that they" (my Lords) "should be called upon, if the respective Committees of these Societies should concur in this opinion, to take steps for such purpose:" that (letter v.) the Society were assured, if they would institute an inspection of those schools to which parliamentary aid had been afforded, and would produce a satisfactory plan for their Training Institution, my Lords would take into consideration their claim for assistance: that (letters xxxii. xiii. xxxvii.) although both these conditions were complied with, their Lordships delayed the grant, and resigned their functions to a newly constituted body, the Committee of Council on Education that this Committee took the claim into consideration, but would not accede to it, unless the Society would submit to the visitations of a State-inspector; a condition to which, in their previous correspondence (letter lii.), it had been already stated, that a regard to Church principles would not allow them to submit. 2. In letters vii. x. xiii. xxxvi. xxxviii. xxxix. the applications of the Society respecting an eligible site for their Training Institution are treated of; and it will be seen in what manner the hopes of the Committee on this point ended in disappointment. 3. The Correspondence of the Society with respect to Sunday-schools is reserved for the Society's Report for the present year. It will be manifest, from the letters now published (xl. xliii.), that their Lordships consider themselves precluded by the limited extent of the parliamentary grant from giving aid to schools in which daily instruction was not afforded; and that thus the whole burden of assisting in the establishment of Sunday-schools is thrown upon the funds of the National Society. The Government gives nothing. 4. It will appear (letters v. vi. viii.) that the National Society, and the British and Foreign School Society, were at the same time requested to inspect such schools as were aided by public money; that the sum of 500l. was allotted to each Society to defray the expenses of the investigation; that since the former Society had about four times as many schools as the latter, the task assigned to it was about four times as great; and yet, inadequately as it was remunerated, that it readily and cheerfully undertook the greater task, while the other association thought fit to decline the lesser. Another circumstance necessary to be adverted to under this head is, that in July 1839 (letter xxxi.), the National Society made a distinct offer to establish a general system of ecclesiastical inspection, extending over all schools in union with the Society, and conducted by the agency of Diocesan Boards, " as soon as the organization of the Boards should be complete, and adequate pecuniary means provided;" that the Society, moreover, engaged to make "reports from time to time to Her Majesty's Government of the results of such inspection as to all schools which might have been erected with the aid of any grants of public money:" but that to this important communication the Committee of Council did not see fit to make any answer. Their Lordships acknowledge (letter xxxiv.) that they have received a copy of the Society's Resolution upon the subject, but pass it over without further notice. 5. The discussions with regard to State-inspection arose out of the resolution adopted by the Committee of Council in 1839, not to grant aid for the erection of any school unless the managers would engage to admit the visits of an inspector into secular instruction, "authorised by the responsible ministers of the crown." The objections of the Society to this new arrangement are stated at length (letter lii.), and a reply by their Lordships follows (letter liv.). The chief point for consideration in that reply is the assurance given by their Lordships of their sensibility to the fact that "many of the present applicants for aid from the parliamentary grant may have presumed that the appropriation of the public fund voted in the present year for the promotion of education would be confided to the Treasury, and administered as in past years." Their Lordships, taking this circumstance into consideration, have declared that they postpone certain further measures which they have in contemplation; and in the meanwhile have "adopted for the present year regulations differing in no important particular from those issued by the Lords of the Treasury, excepting in the condition of inspection." National Society's Office, Sanctuary, Westminster, 5th December, 1839. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. DURING the session of 1835, the sum of 10,000l. was voted by Parliament for the erection of Model-schools. At a meeting of the General Committee of the National Society, held on the 1st of July in the same year, a Report was made by the Secretary of a communication which he had recently held with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of Model - schools, and " with particular reference to the manner in which the grant of 10,000l., applicable to these institutions, might be made to benefit and improve, or extend the various "model and training establishments in connexion with the Society through" out the kingdom; and it was resolved,— 66 1. "That in any further communication on this subject, the Secretary do endeavour to bring under consideration a full and complete account of the arrangements which have already been made by the National Society for the training and instructing of both male and female teachers of schools, as explained in the present Annual Report, and the Appendix No. VI., p. 49, attached thereto; and 2. "That this Board will gladly avail themselves of any assistance which His Majesty's Government may offer for the purpose of promoting and assisting local exertions and contributions towards the maintaining, extending, and improving of Model or Training Schools; and in order to the accomplishment of these desirable objects, the Board is particularly impressed with the importance of making such arrangements as may enable the teachers to remain for a longer period of time in training, and afford encouragement to a superior class of persons to offer themselves for the service of educating the working classes." No. I. Downing Street, December 10, 1835. MY DEAR SIR,-I am desirous of obtaining some information from the National School Society on the subject of the course they have pursued with respect to the training of teachers. The importance of this subject is, I know, strongly impressed on the minds of the members of your Committee, and it is a matter of great interest to me to obtain the fullest information which your experience enables you to supply. The zeal you have ever shewn in the good cause makes it unnecessary that I should apologise to you or the Committee for the trouble I give you; and you will excuse me for adding, that the value of the information I seek will be enhanced if it can be furnished without much delay. The Committee will perceive that among the points to which their attention will be drawn are the following: 1. The number of teachers annually instructed, distinguishing male and female? 2. The cost of such education, and how defrayed, whether in whole or in part by the pupils themselves? 3. The principle under which they are admitted, whether by recommendation or otherwise, and whether any certificates are required? 4. Whether their future services are confined to the Schools of the Society? B 5. What is the average length of their stay; and what may consequently be considered the average period of study necessary for their proper and complete instruction? 6. Whether any, and what certificates are granted on the termination of the course? 7. From what districts the greatest demand is found to exist for teachers? 8. Whether the applications for teachers are more numerous than the Society has the means of meeting? 9. Whether the demand is increasing, stationary, or diminishing? 10. In the event of the establishment of one or more Model-schools, in what place or places the Society would recommend such institutions? 11. What is the course of instruction pursued by their pupils? 12. What is the best age for admission? 13. Whether the pupils are instructed in the principles of Infant-schools, as well as schools for adults? 14. Whether the pupils are lodged at the Model-school, or in its vicinity; and whether any control over their moral conduct is exercised under the authority of the Committee? Many more subjects of the deepest interest will suggest themselves to you and the Committee; and I feel confident that you will be desirous of assisting me as far as you can in the object of these inquiries. Yours faithfully, Rev. J. C. Wigram, &c. (Signed) E. S. RICE. The foregoing Letter was laid before the Committee of the National Society on the 22d of December 1835, and the following minute agreed upon : "The subject having been duly considered, and variations made in certain memoranda prepared by the Secretary with the view of furnishing the information desired, instructions were given for drawing up the answers, and transmitting them, as soon as possible, together with copies of the annual reports, and papers in use by the Society, and certain abstracts from the same, arranged with a view to facilitate a reference to the Society's publications." The answers were duly transmitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and subsequently printed in the Society's Report for 1836. The three following replies to queries express the desire of the Society to participate in the Model-school grant. Q. In the event of the establishment of one or more Model-schools, in what place or places the Society would recommend such institutions to be fixed, and whether in town or country? A. The term here used, Model-schools,' is understood to mean schools for poor children, which are intended to exhibit specimens of the working of the National System, and at the same time to afford opportunities to persons about to be employed in the conduct of other schools, of acquiring knowledge and the method of imparting it. With this design the National Society in 1811 established its Central School in London, which affords a Model of the National (at first called the Madras) system, or system of mutual tuition; also provides a regular course of instruction and training for adult persons as teachers of schools. Its District Central Schools afford only the former of these advantages;—the latter not having been superadded solely from the want of funds. and It is obvious, that if the system itself of the National Society is to be maintained, the teachers must be brought up and disciplined in conformity with it. And, looking to the connexion of the Society with the ecclesiastical and parochial system of the country, and the importance of a cordial co-operation on the part of the Clergy in supporting and superintending the education of the working classes, it appears equally clear that the most acceptable and most effective mode of securing the benefits which are expected to result from Model-schools, will be that of furnishing the Society with the means of placing a |
