"That this Chamber, while strongly sympathizing with the efforts for the improved education of the labouring class engaged in agriculture, consider that Mr. Fawcett's bill would not accomplish this object; that the measure is impracticable in its details, and totally inapplicable to the rural districts; and that no legislation on the education of children engaged in agriculture should take place until the Commission appointed to inquire into the subject shall have given in their report."

We may here observe that Mr. Fawcett proposed that the State shall do for the families of the agricultural labourers what it has already done for those of the factory operatives. He suggests that every child employed in farm work shall, if under thirteen, be compelled to attend school on alternate days. He would also empower the magistrates sitting in petty sessions to direct that a school should be built in any village having a population of more than 300; the cost of erecting and supporting it to be defrayed by a rate levied in the same way as the poor-rate. Finally, Mr. Fawcett would impose a fine of £1 on the parent, and of £10 on the employer, who should defy the provisions of the Act. Of course, the nature of farm labour forbids so rigid a system of compulsory education as that which is applied to the factory districts; and, therefore, Mr. Fawcett's scheme would, under certain circumstances, exempt from attendance those children who lived three miles from a school; while the local magistrates would be authorised to suspend the operation of the Act for two months during harvest. We do not at present discuss the details of the measure, nor do we ask whether it can be carried in its present form; but we emphatically say that the extension of a some such system of education to the agricultural districts would rank with the greatest reforms of this gene

Subscriptions and Donations will be thankfully received by Messrs. BARNETT, HOARES, HANBURYS, and LLOYD, Bankers to the Society, 60, Lombard Street; and at the Society's House, Borough Road, S.E.

J. AND W. RIDER, PRINTERS, 14, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE, LONDON, E.C.

TO TEACHERS.-The Educational Record is supplied and forwarded quarterly, post free, for one year, on a prepayment of 10d. Additional copies of any single number will be sent, if required, on a proportionate payment.

The "Revised Code for 1867," price 3d.; by post, 4d. per copy, is now on sale at the Depository. The Class Lists of the late Examination, the Questions then set, and the Syllabus of the next Examination, are also published. Copies can be procured through the Depository, price 6d.; or, post free, 7d. each.

In prospect of the "Admission Examination," which is arranged for December 17th, we wish to notify that intended candidates would do well to make application at once, addressed to the Secretary, Borough Road, London, S.E. The list of those whose term of apprenticeship expires at or before Christmas, must of necessity be more or less incomplete. Hence, omissions occur in the transmission of the usual circular of inquiry issued about this time. On the period at which (under the New Code) the apprenticeship of Pupil Teachers may be terminated, we beg to invite the attention of Teachers especially to an article in the present number of the Educational Record.

Communications from Teachers in the form of queries, and correspondence, on subjects of practical bearing upon the work of teaching, will be acceptable. All such communications, and books for notice, should be addressed to the Editor, British and Foreign School Society, Borough Road, London, S.E.

RECENT EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS.

A Visit to some American Schools and Colleges. By SOPHIA J. Blake. Macmillan & Co.-The title is a literal representation of the nature of this volume. The first 150 pages are devoted to a general description and a detailed account of the course of study, terms, &c., of the colleges of Oberlin, Hillodale, St. Louis, and Antioch. The remaining 100 pages refer to the public schools of America, and contain information of much interest. The style of the authoress is good, and the remarks and suggestions offered interesting and practical. Though supplying a sketch rather than a manual, we can recommend this work to those engaged or interested in the work of tuition. A Shilling Book of New Testament History. By Rev. G. F. MACLEAN, M.A. Macmillan & Co.-This little book by the Head-Master of King's College School, London, is intended for use in Ñational and other Elementary Schools. It is divided into three parts, embracing, firstly, The connection between the Old and New Testaments; secondly, The Gospel History; and thirdly, The Apostolic History. There is a small map (not of very clear type) to illustrate the apostolic history, or rather the journeys of St. Paul. It is a useful compendium of New Testament History.

The Bible Primer. By JOHN MARSHALL. Simpkin & Co.-This is an easy introduction to Laurie's Bible Readings, and is published in three parts. The object of the author is to give, in the simplest and easiest language, some of the leading truths of the Bible, not only intelligible to, but readable by, the very young. In this design he has succeeded admirably; the style, the type, and the subdivisions into short portions, being equally good.

The Complete Writer. Longmans, Green, & Co.-This forms a part of Stevens and Hole's School Series, and consists of a course of sixteen graduated Copy Books, the higher numbers of which include specimens of correspondence, bills of parcels, receipts, drafts of bills of exchange, &c. The series is specially intended for upper and middle class schools.

Outlines of Geography. By J. C. CURTIS, B.A.-This little book contains a tolerably full description of Great Britain, Íreland, and the British Colonies; a short account of each European country, and a synopsis of those belonging to the other continents. We have no doubt this work will be welcomed by those teachers who know and appreciate the outlines of grammar, English history, and Scripture history by the same author, forming as it does a most valuable addition to that series of cheap and comprehensive school books.

THE

EDUCATIONAL RECORD.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

TRAINING DEPARTMENT.

THE Training College of the Society at the Borough Road and at Stockwell were visited, toward the close of last year, by H. M. Inspectors, J. Bowstead, Esq., M.A., conjointly with E. H. Brodie, Esq., M.A. It devolved on Mr. Bowstead to report to the Committee of Council on Education the result of his inspection; and we have pleasure in supplying the friends of the Society with extracts from this report, very recently issued, and presented to Parlia

ment:

"MY LORDS:-It was one of my duties, in the course of the past autumn, to inspect the normal schools of the British and Foreign School Society; and in the discharge of this duty I had the able assistance of my colleague, Mr. Brodie. These normal schools consist of two separate institutions, one for the training of schoolmasters, situated in the Borough Road, and the other for the training of schoolmistresses, transferred not long ago to Stockwell. In performance of the functions committed to us we went over both institutions together, and thus took a joint view of the adaptation of the premises and general arrangements of each to the objects intended to be accomplished. But the week usually allotted to this inspection did not afford time for united action throughout, and we found it expedient to divide the labour by assigning the chief part of the work to be done at the Borough Road to Mr. Brodie, and that at Stockwell to myself.

"BOROUGH ROAD NORMAL SCHOOL.

"Mr. Brodie has favoured me with the following remarks as the result of his detailed inspection of this establishment :

"The few remarks I have to offer relate wholly to the training of the students, and its effect on them. As to the buildings and general arrange

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