THE

EDUCATIONAL

RECORD.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

ANNIVERSARY MEETING.

THE Annual General Meeting of the Subscribers and Friends of the Society will take place on Monday, the 6th of May next, in the Borough Road, at 12 o'clock. It will be preceded, as usual, by the Examination of the Boys of the Practising School, at 10 o'clock. The Right Hon. the Earl Russell, K.G., President of the Society, is expected to take the Chair.

NORMAL SCHOOL.

MALE DEPARTMENT, BOROUGH ROAD.

At Christmas last, 32 students left the Institution after a residence of two years, nearly all of whom have been appointed to schools. The result of the recent Examination for certificates is highly satisfactory, as affording proof of the skill and ability of those to whom is confided the instruction of the young men, as well as the interest and application of the students themselves.

The session for the year 1867 commenced January 29th, when 33 young men returned for a second year's training, and 30 entered for the first time, making a total of 63 now in residence. Provision is made for the reception of 100 students. The causes of this deficiency in the numbers of candidates are to be found chiefly in the diminished number of pupil-teachers. It is, however, a telling fact, that one-fourth of those presenting themselves for examination with a view to admission at the Borough Road failed to pass. From inquiries made it would appear that there was a somewhat similar proportion of failures at other training colleges. It must not be concealed that the reduction of the time for special training during the pupil-teachership is operat

C

ing prejudicially. Possibly the want of a direct interest on the part of masters in the success of their pupil-teachers may help to contribute to this large proportion of failures. Certain it is that unless some remedy be found, the results must be disastrous to the interests of elementary education. With an increasing demand there is a diminished supply of trained teachers.

In addition to the twenty-nine schools supplied with masters, as reported in the last number of the Educational Record, the following appointments have since been made to schools at Cinderford, West Harptree, Yatton, Kensington, Staines, Bradford-on-Avon, Houghton, Warwick, Starch Green, Kensington, Finchley, Petersham; and assistant masters at Milford, near Derby, and Wisbeach.

There are now 103 students in residence, of whom 53 returned, January 29th, for a second year's training, and 50 were received from the list of successful candidates at the Christmas examination for admission. Of the 43 students who completed their training at Christmas, all, with the exception of two, have entered upon their duties in schools. Here also the class list, showing the result of the recent examination for certificates, is highly creditable to all the parties concerned. Of the students of the second year, only one is placed in the third division.

In January last it was reported that 37 schoolmistresses had been appointed to schools; the following places have since been supplied with female teachers, viz., Bradford, Heap Bridge, near Bury, Royal Naval and Military School, Devonport, Northampton, Hertford, Bishop's Waltham, Thornton Heath, Louth, Landport, and Langport.

AGENCY DEPARTMENT.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN DISTRICT.-During the last quarter, Mr. Salter has been engaged in the counties of Chester, York, Warwick, Stafford, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, and Lancaster. He has visited fortysix towns and villages, and inspected one hundred and five schools. He has also attended one public meeting, assisted in conducting five public examinations, and held eight conferences with committees or with gentlemen proposing to establish schools. Through great part of the district visited there are visible many evidences of increasing interest in education. Instances are not wanting in which gentlemen of influence, long opposed on principle to all Government assistance,

have seen good reason to modify their views in this respect, and have recently become the advocates, not only of the existing system of Government aid to schools, but also of the application, more or less extensively, of the principle of legal compulsion to education. There can be no doubt that much of this effect is owing to the remarkable statistics obtained and widely circulated by the Manchester Education Aid Society, evidencing, as they do, a previously unsuspected and even alarming amount of educational destitution, particularly in large towns. Occasionally increased local activity, resulting in greater local expenditure, especially when combined with dulness of trade, unhappily just now too prevalent here in the north, diminishes somewhat unexpectedly the support hitherto afforded to the Society.

At IRWELL SPRINGS (near Bacup), and at MELTHAM (near Huddersfield), two very promising British schools have recently been opened, under the auspices of zealous and energetic committees, and with numbers surpassing expectation.

CORNHOLM. The public examination of the British School, Cornholm, near Todmorden, exhibited very conspicuously the skill of Mr. Ainsworth, the teacher, the proficiency of the scholars, and the interest felt by the parents. The evening was dark, stormy, and inclement, yet the scholars were punctually in their places, and by the time of commencing the proceedings, the room was filled to the door. The examination included all the usual subjects, and with the remarkably excellent singing interspersed gave great pleasure to all present. A liberal collection was made during the evening, the parents willingly contributing to the resources of the school, and to the cost of a number of prizes which Mr. Salter next day had the pleasure of distributing.

LEICESTER. The public examination of the Hill Street British Schools, Leicester, was held in the great room of the Temperance Hall, under the presidency of the mayor, and was attended by a large audience, who evinced interest enough in the proceedings to pay from threepence to sixpence each for admittance. Several hundred scholars crowded the orchestra, and were examined in reading, geography, grammar, history, arithmetic, physiology, &c., and won universal applause for the proficiency they displayed. A large number of drawings of excellent quality, the work both of girls and boys, was exposed in separate rooms for view, and was earnestly inspected by as many as could get a chance to see them.

MANCHESTER.-The public examination of the large Lancasterian boys School, was held in the schoolroom, under the presidency of R. Gladstone, Esq. As usual, there was a full attendance of parents and friends, and the examination proved very successful. Exercises in reading, recitation, and vocal music, were interspersed with competitive examinations in dictation, arithmetic, &c. At the close, a number of valuable prizes, liberally given by the chairman, were publicly awarded to the successful competitors by Mr. Salter. The meeting was ably addressed by the chairman on the general subject of education, and on the particular

circumstances of the school, pointing out how important it was, not only that the children should attend school regularly and punctually throughout the year, but that special efforts should be made to send every scholar on the occasion of the annual examination by the Government Inspector. The committee, he said, had suffered much pecuniary loss through this point not being understood and attended to by the parents. These remarks were supplemented by Mr. Salter, Mr. Richardson (the master), and by some of the parents from the body of the room.

The

HULME. CHRIST CHURCH BRITISH BOYS' SCHOOL.-The examination of this school was presided over by the Rev. W. Gaskell. It was numerously attended; and such was the keen interest felt in the results developed, that it was found necessary to continue the proceedings for more than an hour after the time originally fixed for closing them. thoroughness of the education given in this unpretending school was shown in a convincing manner by the minuteness, exactness, and fulness of the answers given in geography, history, and grammar; by the facility and intelligence of the reading; and by the despatch and accuracy with which questions in arithmetic were solved.

SOUTHERN AND EASTERN DISTRICTS.-During the past quarter Mr. Milne has visited sixty-two schools in forty-four different towns and villages. He has met six different committees, and conducted. seven public examinations in the following places:-Beccles, Norwich, Wells-next-the-Sea, Cley, Holt, Thetford, and Fenny Stratford.

BECCLES.-The public examination of the boys' and girls' schools was held in the Corn Hall. There was a large and interested company present to witness the proceedings, which were of a very satisfactory character. The children of both schools acquitted themselves admirably in all the subjects in which they were examined. At the close of the examination, Mr. Milne addressed the parents on their duty to their children, endeavouring to show them that, in God's plan, they are the true educators of their own offspring, and their own fireside the best school.

NORWICH.-The Pockthorpe British School is one of the best in the city of Norwich, and the examination of the children always affords a rich treat to those who witness it. This seemed to be the expectation of the large and respectable company assembled, and they were not disappointed. The examination included reading, spelling, arithmetic, history, geography, and the Sacred Scriptures, and in all these subjects the children showed that they had been carefully taught by Mr. Steele, the excellent master of the school. Some mutual questioning followed, which afforded much amusement to the audience, and a few brief speeches concluded the proceedings of a very interesting evening.

WELLS, NORFOLK.-The Wells Infant School was examined in the afternoon of Monday, the 17th December, and the Juvenile School in the evening, under the presidency of the rector of the parish. On both occasions there was a large attendance; indeed, in the evening the room was densely crowded, and many were unable to obtain admission. Both examinations proved very successful. The infants read beautifully, and recited long pieces of poetry with admirable effect. They also showed that they had been carefully taught such Scripture truths as their tender

years enabled them to receive. In the upper school the examination comprised all the subjects usually taught in British schools, and in all these the children acquitted themselves very successfully. Their reading and recitation were especially admired. Prizes were given away at the close of the proceedings, and several gentlemen testified their satisfaction and delight by giving money to purchase similar prizes for next year.

CLEY-NEXT-THE-SEA.-The annual examination of this school was conducted by Mr. Milne. In the unavoidable absence of the rector of the parish, the chair was occupied by Clement Cozens Hardy, Esq. Various changes of teachers have recently occurred in the school, but the examination showed no falling off in the extent or quality of the instruction. The proceedings were of a very interesting character, and gave great satisfaction to the crowded audience who assembled to witness them.

HOCT. The large schoolroom was filled with an interested and attentive audience, to listen to the examination of the Holt British School. The chair was occupied by W. Cozens Hardy, Esq., J.P. The examination was a very successful one, and afforded great satisfaction to all who witnessed it. The reading was especially good, and all the other subjects in which the children were examined showed the care which had been bestowed on their instruction. Mr. Milne addressed a few words of counsel and encouragement to both the children and their parents, which terminated the proceedings of the evening.

THETFORD.-The third annual examination of this school was conducted by Mr. Milne; C. Henry Fison, Esq., in the chair. There was a large attendance, and the appearance of the children, and the way in which they acquitted themselves, afforded great satisfaction and delight. Some beautiful specimens of mapping and penmanship were handed round the room, and were much admired. Several persons rose in the body of the meeting, and expressed the pleasure which the proceedings of the evening had afforded them, and their obligations to the zeal and ability of the master who had worked single-handed during the greater part of the year. The school has prospered greatly, and is now in a very satisfactory position. FENNY STRATFORD.-The public examination of this school, conducted by Mr. Milne, proved very interesting and successful. The Rev. J. Walker occupied the chair, and expressed the pleasure it gave him to meet the parents of the children and the friends and supporters of the school again to witness the progress of the scholars. The result was most satisfactory, and showed how much care and attention they had received. The writing was especially admired; and, indeed, every subject was handled in a very creditable way. The master was thanked for his services during the year, and the British and Foreign School Society for their kindness in sending their Inspector to conduct the examination.

SOUTH WALES.-During the months of December, January, and February, Mr. Williams has been engaged in promoting education on the scriptural and unsectarian principles of the Society in the counties of Caermarthen, Glamorgan, and Pembroke. He has paid thirty-four visits to thirty-two towns and villages, visited thirty-two schools, addressed six public meetings, conducted four public examinations, and held nine conferences with school managers and pro