The Earl of Mintosaid, that he rose to put a question to his noble Friend opposite, respecting a most useful class of persons in Scotland, and to whom functions of the greatest consequence to the community were entrusted. It appeared that for a considerable period that most useful body of men, the Parochial Schoolmasters in Scotland, had received a most disproportionate remuneration for the services which they had to perform. He found, from a Return which had been laid before Parliament, that the minimum salaries of the Schoolmasters of Scotland was 26l. a-year, or 10s. a-week; and that the maximum was between 34l. and 35l. a-year, or about 14s. a-week, and this amount was paid by the heritors of each parish. It was obvious, that with such salaries, it was not possible to obtain the services of persons as Parochial Schoolmasters in Scotland, who were qualified to perform the duties entrusted to them. In addition, however, to this stipend paid by the heritors, there was a sum received in many parishes which varied in amount, namely, from the school fees of those who did not receive a gratuitous education, which, on the average, increased the income of the parochial schoolmasters in Scotland to 50l. a-year. He believed nearly all persons who had looked into the subject, and had carefully considered it, admitted that the greatest benefit would arise from increasing the incomes of this class, for by that means schoolmasters of an improved description would be obtained, and there would be a manifest improvement in the whole character of education in Scotland. This was not merely a speculative opinion, but experience in one part of the country had shown the advantage of adopting the course he had alluded to. He found that in three counties in the north of Scotland a large amount of property had been left for the purpose of increasing the endowments of the Parochial Schoolmasters in 874 them. These counties were Banff, Moray, and Aberdeen; and within the last few years the bequest of 4,000l. a-year had been made applicable to the increasing the income of the Parochial Schoolmasters residing in them. This bequest had been admirably administered, and it had been attended with the greatest benefits in improving the character of the education of the poor in those counties. The number of scholars in the schools in those counties had increased in the course of three years from 10,000 to 13,000, and not only had there been this important increase in the number of the scholars, but the greatest improvements had been effected in the character of the education received. In addition to this, the amount of school fees received from those who paid for their education had increased, during the same time, from 800l. a-year to 1,800l., and this had taken place not only without any diminution in the number of the gratuitous schools, but with the great increase which he had mentioned. During the same time, the number of scholars paying fees had increased from 888 to 1,459. This was a good instance as illustrative of the nature of the improvement that would take place if the principle was extended throughout Scotland of increasing the emoluments of the Parochial Schoolmasters. He hoped that he should hear from his noble Friend opposite that the subject had occupied the attention of Her Majesty's Government, and that he would state whether they were prepared to introduce a measure for the improvement of the condition of this useful class of persons, to whom was entrusted the important task of superintending the education of the people of Scotland. The only objection that he had heard against any proposition of the kind was, that if they increased the emoluments of this class of persons, it would operate as an inducement for them to relax in their exertions, and to neglect their duty; this he considered to be a most idle and futile objection, and it had been completely disproved by what had taken place in the three counties to which he had referred. He hoped to hear something from his noble Friend which would render it unnecessary for him to take any further steps in the matter. He, therefore, would ask his noble Friend whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure on the subject, or whether the subject had so far attracted 875 attention, as to enable him to say that it was probable that some relief or assistance would be given to this class of persons.
The Earl of Haddingtonreplied, that there could not be the least doubt as to the value of the parochial institutions for the purposes of education in Scotland, and he joined with his noble Friend in lamenting that such a slate of things as he had described with regard to the Schoolmasters should exist. He would not follow his noble Friend into any details, but he would confine himself merely to giving an answer to the question. As for the advantages that would result from making some addition to the emoluments of the Schoolmasters in Scotland, it was hardly necessary that reference should be made to the case in the north of Scotland, of which mention had been made by his noble Friend, but it was certainly a striking illustration of the subject. He should now merely state that the attention of Her Majesty's Government had been directed to the subject; but he was not able or authorised on the part of the Government to pledge itself to hold out to the noble Earl the probability of introducing any measure on the subject during the present Session; but he could assure his noble Friend that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take the subject into its fullest consideration, with the view of adopting some step in the matter.
Lord Broughamsaid, that he cordially agreed with the noble Lord who had brought forward the subject, that nothing could be more cruel and absurd than to say that by increasing, in a moderate degree, the emoluments of the Scotch Parochial Schoolmasters, they were likely to become less efficient than they now were. It was obvious that the present payment to this class of persons was not by any means sufficient, and it was a monstrous absurdity to suppose that they could get efficient schoolmasters at salaries of 26l. a-year. This was absolutely less than the wages of a labourer, and yet it was the amount to be offered to a man who probably had received an university education, and to whom the discharge of the most important duties was intrusted. If they gave too high salaries the objection to which he had alluded might possibly arise, but with such a paltry allowance he was astonished how they could get any schoolmasters at all. He believed that at present the persons who accepted the 876 appointment of Schoolmasters only did so while waiting for some other office or appointment.
§ The Earl of Gallowayobserved, that he had presented several Petitions from Schoolmasters and Presbyteries on this subject, and he could not help expressing his gratification at hearing that Her Majesty's Government intended to turn their attention to the subject. The treatment of the Parochial Schoolmasters in Scotland was extremely bad. He had met with very great prejudice against the augmentation of the salaries of Schoolmasters, because it was said that the average sum they received was at least 50l. a-year —that was a most erroneous statement— it might perhaps be the case in a few instances where they were able to take boarders. There was an Act of Parliament which passed in 1803 with respect to them, which was absolutely a disgrace to the Statute-book; for it contained a clause enacting that the residence of the Schoolmaster should be confined to two rooms, one of which must be a kitchen.
§ The Duke of Richmondsaid, that he had property in two of the counties in the north of Scotland which had been mentioned by his noble Friend, and he found that in those counties they got a much better class of Schoolmasters than in other districts, because they were better paid. To meet the objection, that good pay would render the Schoolmasters idle, the children should be periodically examined by the Presbytery, and that would insure a proper discharge of their duty. One serious inconvenience of the present system was, that when once a man was appointed a Schoolmaster, it was almost impossible to remove him, so difficult was it to get up a case against him. He should wish the salaries of the Schoolmasters to be increased, but would also have the power to remove them in case of misconduct more easy of execution.
Lord Campbellhad also presented a great number of Petitions on this subject, and he rejoiced to hear of the intentions of the Government on the subject; and he was sure that it would give general satisfaction in Scotland to hear that it was probable that the salaries of the Schoolmasters would be increased in proportion to the important duties which they had to perform, and the circumstances of the times.
The Earl of Mintohad heard with great satisfaction the answer of his noble Friend 877 opposite, and he hoped that the matter would be taken up by the Government with as little delay as possible. He could confirm the statement of the noble Duke with respect to the difficulty of dealing with delinquent Schoolmasters.
§ Subject at an end.