one restricted to any schools, or school, or district) forming part of the foundation of any college in Oxford and Cambridge, without the consent of such college.

In every scheme (except where, by the expiration of the original instrument of foundation, or by the statutes or regulations made under the direct authority of the founder, or by continual observance thereof, the school is shown to have been intended for a particular religious denomination) the Commissioners shall provide that the parents or guardians of any scholar may claim, by notice in writing, that he be exempted from attending prayers or religious worship, or from lessons on religious subjects. Unless the schools belong to the class excepted, the governors are not to be disqualified on grounds of religious opinions, and the masters are not to be required to be in holy orders.

The Commissioners are empowered to transfer the jurisdiction of visitors to the Charity Commissioners, and in every scheme they are to provide for the abolition of all jurisdiction of the ordinary. They are also in every scheme to provide for the dismissal at pleasure of every teacher and officer, including the principal teacher.

Endowments applicable to apprenticeship fees or for advancement in life are to be deemed educational endowments; and if the Charity Commissioners certify that it is desirable, the Commissioners may apply for the advancement of education the whole or any part of any endowment with incomes applicable to giving doles in money or kind, paying marriage portions, redemption of prisoners and captives, relief of poor prisoners for debt, loans, of objects which have failed altogether, or have become insignificant in comparison with the magnitude of the endowment, if given to charitable uses in or before the year 1800.

When the Commissioners have prepared a scheme they are to publish it; and during two months they are to receive any objections or suggestions, after which they may, if they think fit, hold an inquiry. When settled, the scheme will require the approval of the Committee of Council; and the governors, or any person directly affected thereby, may petition against the scheme, as not saving or making due compensation for his or their vested interests, or as not being within the scope of, or made in conformity with, the Act.

Where a scheme abolishes any restrictions which makes any exhibition tenable only at a particular college in any university, and the exhibition is payable out of property held by such college or by the university in trust for such college (otherwise than as governing body of a school, or as a bare trustee), the scheme will not be approved if not less than two-thirds of the governing body dissent therefrom in writing.

An approved scheme is finally to be laid before Parliament, and either House may pray her Majesty to withhold her consent. But if the annual gross income does not exceed £100, the scheme need not to be laid before Parliament. When a scheme is approved, it is to have full operation and effect, as if enacted in this Act. Unless the powers conferred by this Act are continued by Parliament, no scheme can be made or approved after the year 1870.

The second part of the Bill, which is headed permanent, provides for the examination of teachers and schools. After a date to be subsequently fixed, not earlier than the year 1870, no person is to be capable of being appointed to the office of teacher in any endowed school who does not possess, according to the character of the school, or the nature of the instruction to be given by such teacher, a certificate of fitness granted under this part of the Act, or a certificate issued under the authority of the Committee of Council on Education.

An educational council is to be established, consisting of twelve members-six nominated by the Privy Council, and six (two each) by the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and London. Their powers and duties are (1) to draw up rules and make all necessary arrangements for the conducting of the examination of persons who, being teachers or intending to be teachers, voluntarily apply to be examined; (2) granting certificates of fitness for teaching, whether that fitness is ascertained by such examination, or by any examinations which the Council may deem sufficient for the purpose; (3) drawing up rules and making all necessary arrangements for conducting the examination of scholars in endowed schools, and of examinations for exhibitions open for competition among endowed schools; (4) making an annual report; (5) printing a register of all persons to whom they have granted certificates of fitness for teaching.

The expenses of the Educational Council are to be defrayed out of a fund raised

by fees for examining teachers applying for certificates, and by a per-centage, not exceeding five per cent. on the fees for instruction payable by the scholars for the time being in an endowed school or private registered school, or by a like sum from the revenues of the school when the scholars are exempt from fees.

The proprietor or other persons having the management of any school not being an endowed school may enter such school in a register kept for that purpose by the Educational Council; and a registered school will be entitled to the following privileges-1. Its scholars may be examined, and the names of the successful ones published under the authority of the Educational Council. 2. Its scholars may compete for any exhibitions which are open for competition among endowed schools of the district in which they might compete for exhibitions if the school were an endowed school, subject to the following qualifications :-(a) The school must, in the opinion of the Educational Council, be of the same character as the endowed schools, for the scholars of which the exhibition is intended; (b) The limits of age of the competing scholars must be the same as those imposed on the endowed schools and the scholars therein for whom the exhibition is intended. The conditions of registry are-1. The school must be open at all times for the examination of its scholars, under the authority of the Educational Council, in the same manner as endowed schools. 2. The fees charged to scholars must not, in the opinion of the Council, be so high as to put the school beyond the reach of the class of scholars, for whom the endowed schools of the same character in the same district above mentioned are intended. 3. The proprietor must pay the same per-centage of the fees of the scholars as is charged in respect of endowed schools of the same character in the said district. 4. The rules and conditions drawn up by the Educational Council must be duly observed. If any of the above conditions are broken, the Council may remove the school from the register.

THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS OF SCOTLAND BILL.

A BILL has been introduced by the Duke of Argyll for the purpose of extending and improving the parochial schools of Scotland, and for making further provision for the education of the people of Scotland. By this bill it is proposed to establish a Board of Education, consisting of nine members; of these, two are to be appointed by the Crown, two to be elected by the convention of royal burghs, two by the conveners of counties, two by the council of the universities (Glasgow and Aberdeen each alternately electing one member, and in like manner Edinburgh and St. Andrew's), and one member is to be chosen by the Educational Institute of Scotland.

All parochial and parliamentary schools are to be henceforward designated "Old National Schools," and they are to be managed as at present; if one such school is sufficient for the educational wants of two or more parishes, the parishes may unite as regards such school. The master of every discontinued school is to receive for life the amount of salary to which he is entitled at the time of discontinuance. The board is required to fix the number of schools required in each parish or burgh; they may adopt any school with the sanction of a majority of the trustees, managers, or proprietors-such school being thenceforth designated "an adopted national school;" and they may require the school committee of any parish or burgh to erect new schools. The new schools are to be called "new national schools," and are to be managed by the school committee. Two or more parishes may, with the sanction of the board, establish a new school or new schools common to such parishes, and every such school is to be called a "combined national school." The heritors and ministers of any parish may convert an old national school into a new national school, and when so converted it is to be managed as such. In every landward* parish the school committee is to be chosen by the ratepayers, and in burghs by the town council. Every person appointed to the office of teacher in any national school must hold a certificate of competency from the Committee of Council or from examiners appointed

A landward parish is a parish, the whole or any part of which is situated without the limits of any burgh.

by this Act, i. e., an examiner appointed by the Committee of Council to be present at every examination, and-persons appointed by the university court of each university.

If a teacher is guilty of any immoral conduct, or of cruel and improper treatment of his scholars, or if he is disqualified because of infirmity or old age for the performance of the duties of his office, or if from negligence or inattention, or incapacity of mind or body, he has failed to discharge such duties, he may be removed; but where the teacher is permitted to resign, or is removed without fault on his part, the committee is to grant a retiring allowance of not less than two-thirds of his salary at the time of his removal,

By a conscience clause every national school is to be open to children of all denominations, and any scholar may be withdrawn from any religious teaching or service to which his or her parents may on religious grounds object.

A code of regulations is to be drawn up, due care being taken that the standard of education which now exists shall not be lowered, and that as far as possible as high a standard be maintained in all national schools. No grant is to be made unless the inspector makes a favourable report, and, except in certain insular parishes, the annual grant for the maintenance of any school is not to exceed the local contributions. The following sources are to be taken as such :-All sums derived from the legal assessment of the heritors of any parish beyond the minimum fixed by the Parochial and Burgh Schoolmasters Act (1861); all voluntary contributions; all sums derived from bequests and endowments, subject, however, to such regulations as may be laid down in respect thereto in the Code; all school fees; all sums derived from the annual school assessment (imposed by this Act) on all lands and heritages, according to their yearly value, the annual assessment in no case to exceed threepence in the pound.

HINTS TO COMMITTEES DESIRING TO PLACE THEIR SCHOOLS UNDER INSPECTION.

Preliminary Steps.-The Managers should appoint one of their number as Correspondent, who shall at once write to "The Secretary, Education Department, Council Office, Whitehall, London, S. W.," announcing their intentions, and requesting a visit from the Inspector. If a certificated Teacher has been engaged, his name should be mentioned in the letter, and the grant will probably be computed from the time at which this communication is made. But if it be intended to present an acting Teacher as a candidate for a certificate, some delay will be necessary. An untrained Teacher is not eligible for examination until his school has received two favourable reports from an Inspector. Thus, if an application is made by a Committee in September, 1869, and the Inspector pays one visit before the end of that year, and another twelve months later, the candidate will be admissible for examination at Christmas, 1870; and no grant will be claimable until he shall have passed.

The Managers should procure a copy of the "Revised Code of Regulations on Education," which is published each year by the Queen's printer, and may be had for 3d., through any bookseller. This document states in precise language the legal conditions on which the grant for public education is now distributed, and the regulations of the Education Department on many points of detail. Its various articles are always referred to by number in all official correspondence. Managers and Teachers will save themselves much trouble, if they will read the Code carefully before communicating with the office.

It is not essential, but it is very desirable, that the Managers should also obtain the Report of the Committee of Council on Education (price 4s. 8d.) for the current year. This volume contains, besides the Code, the General Report of the Department to the Crown, the Reports of the Inspectors, and much other matter from which will be gathered a correct notion of the existing system, and of the spirit in which it is administered. If lent to the Teacher, and permitted to circulate among the members of the Committee, it will help to solve some difficulties, and perhaps to diminish the necessity for much correspondence.

Buildings.-If the schoolroom is not yet finished, or if it is intended to provide

new desks or other fittings, it is well to obtain, if possible, a conference with the Inspector before any further steps are taken. Should he be unable to visit the school for this special purpose, he will probably send on application a copy of some "Rules for the planning and fitting up of Schools" which have been drawn up by the architect of the Council for the guidance of School Managers. It should be borne in mind that desks should never be arranged along a wall, nor in such a way that the scholars face each other; but in parallel groups of three or four, each desk being capable of accommodating six or eight scholars. Desk accommodation should be provided for at least four-fifths of the whole number of scholars. If there be an infant class a gallery will be required, and it will also be necessary to provide two or three low flat desks for the special use of the little ones in learning to write.

If the room has been originally designed or used as a Sunday school, all furniture specially adapted for that purpose, and not used for the day school work, should be cleared out of the room during the week.

Should the Managers desire to obtain aid from the Committee of Council, in building, improving, or enlarging the school premises, they should be careful to make no contracts and to commence no work before submitting their plans to the office for the approval of their Lordships. Grants are never made for work which has been begun without this formal sanction.

There should be a good supply of black-boards, of hooks or pegs, for the children's hats, of maps, tabular lessons, reading books and ruled slates. It is always mistaken economy to attempt to carry on a school with an insufficient supply of these necessaries.

Whenever boys and girls are admitted, provision must be made, not only for separate outer offices, but also for distinct means of access to them. There should be two doors in the schoolroom, the one for the use of boys, and the other for girls, and there should be no communication between the two portions of the school ground which are cut off for this purpose.

The Inspector is instructed to report on the state of the premises, and to state at each annual visit whether they are clean and in good repair, and whether due provision is made for ventilation, warming, and drainage.

TEACHING.-In order to derive the full advantage of the existing system of grants, it is necessary to employ one pupil teacher for every 40, after the first 25 scholars. Thus a school whose average attendance amounts to 65, but is less than 105, will require one pupil teacher; one containing 105, but less than 145, two, &c. In Infant Schools, and those in which the extra grant is not claimed, it suffices if there be one pupil teacher for every 40 after the first 50 scholars. See Art. 52-54. These conditions will be fulfilled for the first year, if by the month appointed for the inspector's visit, the principal teacher is able to present to him the necessary number of candidates, being boys or girls above the age of 13, who can pass the simple examination described in Art. 88 of the Code. Should the candidate have completed his 15th year, he may be engaged for a shorter term than the usual five years, on passing the higher examination appropriate to the end of the first or second year.

If the principal teacher is a master, it is not wise, as a rule, to admit children under six years of age; unless he has a female assistant or pupil teacher who can devote herself entirely to the infants, nor unless there is a separate room for their accommodation.

For the first year, it will be well to advise the concentration of the teacher's whole power upon the attainment of good order, and upon the instruction of the scholars in reading, writing, and arithmetic. There will be a better chance of future success in the higher and more ambitious subjects, for which an extra grant is offered, if, at first, the chief efforts are devoted to secure a sound knowledge of the rudiments.

All responsibility respecting the religious instruction in schools not connected with the Church of England, is left absolutely in the hands of the school managers. The inspector is not instructed to test the results of the religious teaching, or to make any inquiries respecting its nature or extent.

In all schools in which girls are admitted, a sewing mistress should be employed for at least five hours per week, and provision should be made for the regular instruction of every girl above six years of age in needlework. In making this provision, it will be well to form a small committee of ladies, to

consult with the sewing mistress as to the best plan of work, and to visit the school occasionally for the purpose of overlooking it. It is not enough to permit the children to do any sewing or knitting which the parents may choose to send. Some cotton or linen should be provided, to be used whenever a child fails to bring suitable material from home; and it should be remembered that the proper office of the school is to teach, and not to perform for parents the work required for home use, except in so far as that work may be helpful for the purpose of instruction. On this point many mistakes are often made; and much valuable time is consequently wasted. There are some remarks on pp. 337-39 of the Council Report for 1868, which direct attention to an evil often found to exist in the mixed schools of the Yorkshire district, and to the precautions which should be taken against it.

MANAGEMENT.-The whole of the present system of administering the Parliamentary grant pre-supposes the existence in each school of a bona fide committee, to represent the voluntary subscribers, to control the expenditure, to engage and dismiss all the teachers, and generally to manage the affairs of the school. This committee should hold periodical meetings, at which reports of progress should be received from the master or mistress; the log-book, and the school registers should be inspected; and the purchase of all needful school material should be sanctioned. A treasurer should be appointed to receive all the school fees and other moneys, to pay the teacher and his assistants, and to keep the accounts. In some schools it has been proposed to farm the school to the teacher, and to let him receive all the income, and make all the payments. But when this is done the management of the school by a committee is only nominal, and the conditions on which State aid is offered for educational purposes are not fulfilled. Public grants are not intended to be made to private adventure or self-supporting schools, but to public institutions, controlled and partly sustained by responsible committees, who undertake to co-operate with the Government in the work of education, and to see that certain funds are properly applied for this purpose. There are returns of attendance required in each year, which cannot be duly made unless three of the managers at least are prepared to examine the school registers with some care, and to verify the figures extracted from them. Three managers also should be appointed to sign the receipt for the annual grant.

The grant is expressly voted by Parliament "to promote the education of children belonging to the classes who support themselves by manual labour." If other children are admitted into the school, they should be classed and examined with the rest, but the occupation of their parents should be specified in the Examination Schedule. A special reason should be assigned in writing, in every case in which the parent, though not strictly one of the labouring class, is "of the same means and social level;" and in which, therefore, the managers believe that, according to the spirit of Art. 4, they are justified in claiming a grant.

It is evident that duties of this kind cannot be adequately discharged by the teacher alone; and the inspector is instructed, at each of his visits, to ascertain that the various accounts, registers, and returns have been duly kept and verified, under the direction of the Managing Committee.

ST. LEONARDS BRITISH AND INFANT SCHOOLS.

F.

THESE Schools were formally opened on November 23, 1868. The want which they are intended to supply has long been felt, and the committee may be congratulated on the success which has attended their commendable undertaking.

The inaugural proceedings commenced with a public breakfast, at which the mayor and corporation, F. North and T. Brassey, Esqs., the borough members, and other influential residents were present. The chair was taken by Thomas Spalding, Esq., and after breakfast he began the proceedings with an appropriate speech. He remarked that while they had to regret the absence of their esteemed friends, Samuel Morley, Esq.,