EDUCATION IN IRELAND. (Hansard, 9 August 1845)

§ Mr. Wyse

moved for Returns of the sums contributed and expended for the establishment and maintenance of the diocesan schools in Ireland, distinguishing such as had been contributed by the clergy of the Established Church, by grand juries, and by pupils respectively. These returns were necessary to complete those for which he moved yesterday, and he called for them thus in time, in order to enable him at an early period in the ensuing Session to resume the question which he had on many former occasions pressed upon the House, the reform and extension of the Diocesan and Royal Schools, and of the dissolution of the Board of Commissioners, under whom they were placed, with the view of making these schools more useful to the general purposes of Irish education. Though the new Colleges (Ireland) Act provided for an important class of education, there was a large space still unoccupied, intermediate between these institutions and the elementary schools, and this interval he wished to see filled up by the Diocesan and Royal Schools, when duly enlarged and reformed, and by such additions to them, on the same principle and in the same class, as might be sufficient to supply the public wants in this department, under the name of County Academies, in every county in Ireland. The Report of the Committee of 1836 and 1838 had gone at great length into the whole of that question; and, after showing the actual defects, had pointed out their remedy. He, as Chairman of that Committee, had spared no opportunity, not only of examining into facts, but into opinions relative to these schools, and he believed no serious difficulty would interfere to prevent the carrying out the alterations and improvements which he ventured to suggest relative to that branch of education in the Report. He did not think that the Commissioners themselves, who were not to be confounded with the Board of Commissioners of National Education, would oppose the dissolution of their body, and the placing the whole under the one administration of the latter. The reform of this department was, in all 1554 cases, necessary. It was as requisite on the one side to complete the system, as the opening of the Dublin University on the other. The Government had already given evidence of their desire to reform and extend the higher departments of education sufficient to justify him in hoping that they would not neglect this addition to the project, but that during the recess they would give it their anxious attention, with the view, if possible, at an early period, of carrying it with the same resolution into effect, as the Colleges Bill. In any case he should not fail to bring it again, pursuant to his Notice, in the hope of better success under the consideration of the House, as soon as Parliament should reassemble. There was another class of schools (he meant industrial schools) for which he felt the greatest interest. He believed, of all others, they were the most appropriate to the wants of the great majority of the inhabitants of Ireland; and were better calculated than any other to render practically useful amongst the population the lessons they had received in the other schools. Private individuals had done much for their establishment and maintenance; and there was one in the north, and another in the west of Ireland, under the superintendence of a Catholic clergymen, which, he had no doubt, would do infinite good; but he wished to see the Government, also, zealously co-operate both in establishing themselves, through the National Board, such institutions, and aiding the establishment of them by others. In this hope, he had called for returns, somewhat similar to those moved for in reference to the diocesan and royal schools. He was anxious to bring them into something like a regularly organized system; on one side in connexion with the elementary and promised model schools, and the Board of Education; and on the other, with the new Colleges and the Agricultural Association. He trusted the Government would also give them their attentive consideration during the recess, with the view to provide more largely for their better organization and greater extension, both in the form of schools or colleges throughout the country. Before he sat down, he would take the liberty of once more adverting to the new Colleges. He wished to have a more explicit declaration from the Government of their intentions, relative to the carrying out of the plan (now happily a law of the realm); and which he trusted would soon demand their attention. The 1555 right hon. Baronet opposite (Sir J. Graham) had more than once stated his full assent to what he had ventured most strenuously to impress on the House—the absolute necessity, in the execution of the Act, to frame laws or statutes, and to constitute the governing body or bodies, in such a way as should fully deserve and meet the sanction and concurrence of the different classes and persuasions for whom they were designed. The best intentions, the highest object, the most perfect machinery, would be valueless without such condition. The right hon. Baronet had generally stated his desire to act on this indispensable principle; he felt, therefore, the less apprehension that he would decline at present stating to the House in what manner he proposed to carry this principle out. He would, therefore, both for his own satisfaction, and he supposed also for that of the public, ask the right hon. Baronet, whether he intended to lay the charter of incorporation and statute on the Table of the House early in the ensuing Session; and, in forming the governing body of the Colleges, whether he proposed to constitute one central body, or several local bodies, and of whom such body or bodies, when formed, were to be composed?