§ EARL GRANVILLEin presenting (by Command)
Revised Code of Regulations incorporating the Minutes of 11th of March, 1864 and 8th February, 1865, with a Schedule of all Articles cancelled or modified, and of all new Articles, by the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council on Education,said: My Lords, these Minutes contain certain alterations which are of a character to make more clear that which before was obscure; and there are also two additional Minutes which have not yet been laid before Parliament. They will be printed without delay, and circulated among your Lordships. One of them relates to the difficulty of dealing with the smaller class 317 of schools. A lady, who has distinguished herself for her wide-spread benevolence, proposed a scheme some short time ago to the Council Office, which has been very carefully considered, and we propose now to lay on the table of the House a Minute relating to the subject, which will come into action in a month. With regard to the smaller schools, not less than two, and not more than six, will be at liberty to unite themselves, and will be admitted to all the advantages to be obtained from the appointment of a certificated master, visiting from one school to another for a certain number of hours in each, according to the number of scholars. If that experiment be carried out, I believe it will be of great advantage to the poorer schools in the less populous districts, where it is very necessary that economy as well as efficiency should be studied. The other Minute is one which is intended to meet a complaint that has been made with regard to evening schools. There is no doubt whatever of the importance of these evening schools, and one of the great difficulties complained of by the managers of these schools is as to the examinations. These examinations are now carried on by the Inspector, at the same time that he visits the morning schools; but when an Inspector has been engaged the entire day in the duty of examining a morning school, it is unreasonable to expect that he should be able to examine an evening school afterwards. The rule, therefore, has been to examine both the schools at the same time. One-half of the evening schools also are examined during the summer months, when the attendance is limited. It is proposed that the reading of the evening schools shall be tested by the managers only. The other branches of education will be tested by sending down papers to the school. The reading will be judged of only by the managers of the school; but the answers in writing to the papers will be sent up to the office to be examined by the Inspector:—and I may observe that the Inspector, if he chooses, and finds it convenient to do so, may attend those examinations. My Lords, I sincerely believe that both these measures are right in principle, and will be productive of a considerable amount of practical good.