A large number for the first examination for certificates or scholarships. The Central School at Truro continues to combine the training of mistresses with the elementary teaching of the children of the poor. The following statement respecting it was forwarded to me after my last inspection. "The training department of the Cornwall Central School at present consists of eleven young persons, three of whom are resident in the establishment, the remaining six being from the town and neighbourhood of Truro. These pupils are divided into two classes, both of which pass under the daily instruction of the mistress of the practising school, and of a governess appointed for that purpose." "From seven till eight, from twelve till one, and an hour after the dismissal of the children at four o'clock, are the hours devoted by the mistress of the Central School to their instruction; the governess being similarly occupied in the intermediate hours, from half-past nine to one, and from two to three." "The evening is spent, during the summer, in walking and in the preparation of lessons for the work of the next day." "At present there is no clerical principal attached to the institution, a want that is greatly felt." "Whilst the first-class teachers are engaged in the class-room, the second are learning the art of teaching in the practising school. This occupies about half the morning, and then a change takes places; one exchanging the class-room for the practising school, and vice versa." "One hour, from three to four in each afternoon, is devoted to needlework." 66 With regard to the success of the institution, it may be remarked that, during the last three years, twenty-two pupils have been sent to different parts of the counties of Cornwall and Devon, and very favourable testimony of their efficiency as teachers, and of the general character of the instruction given by them in their schools, is from time to time received by the managers, affording good proof that the institution, even under its present imperfect management, is capable in a measure of answering the ends desired by those who are most interested in its welfare." "It is, however, most desirable that the practising school should be made into a good model school. At present there is a deficiency of apparatus and furniture, and there is no doubt that many of the young persons trained in the institution have left parochial schools with fittings much superior to those of the Cornwall Central School." "The sleeping apartments are over the girls' school; and there is a good class-room, which is also the sitting room of the students." "Increased accommodation is about to be made over the boys' room." "There are no class-rooms for the use of the children in the Central School, which are absolutely indispensable for making it a good model school." "More accommodation is also required for training the young women in household economy; a wash-house and larger kitchens are needed. Every opportunity compatible with the regularity of the house is afforded to them of improving in this important branch of duty." "No assistance has been received from the Committee of Privy Council, either in purchasing desks or furniture, or in extending the size of the present buildings, on account of the tenure of the property." The school for the gipsey population at Farnham near Blandford in Dorsetshire, requires a few special remarks. This institution is stated to be the only one of the kind established in Great Britain, for the education of the gipsies, a people said to amount to 20,000 in number. At the time of my visit there were only six children; but I cannot imagine that such an institution will fail in the long run. The following will show the object of the institution. "It is to gather in from the highways a few of those children who now are brought up only in ignorance and sin, and to give them a sound moral and religious training, as well as an industrial education; that so they may become, under God's blessing, useful members of society." "Penal laws have been enacted against them, as hopeless, irreclaimable vagrants, while they and their children have been left to perish in the highways and hedges, in the dearth of all spiritual knowledge, and shrouded in all spiritual darkness. It is believed that carrying out the Vagrant Act against them will never reform them, or christianize or reclaim them from their wandering habits. It is proposed, therefore, to adopt milder measures, more in accordance with the true spirit of Christianity, and under the full conviction that education is the only probable means of substantially benefiting the gipsies, by bringing them eventually under the practical influence of the Christian religion.' The rules adopted at Montacute School, near Yeovil in Somersetshire, for the increase of the weekly payments of the children, are so simple that they are worthy of insertion. Concerning the scale of weekly payments in our school I have much pleasure in writing you a few lines.' 66 "When the late master and mistress left us I was desirous of securing the services of teachers of superior ability; and with this object in view I called a public meeting of our parishioners, and told them of the necessity of raising their weekly payments, if they wished for a better master and mistress. I then recommended to them a graduated scale, and, whereas before all paid ld., I now proposed that the labourer should still pay, as usual, ld.; carpenters, masons, and such like, earning 12s. per week, should pay 2d. for the first child and ld. for each afterwards; all tradesmen working on their own account, and persons keeping little village-shops, 2d.; farmers and others in a large way of business, 4d. I explained fully at the meeting what description of persons would be included in each class, and requested them to send their money accordingly on the following Monday, and thus save me the unpleasant duty of saying more to them on money matters." "The people have fallen in with the plan exceedingly well. I have heard none complain of the inequality of the payments, and each one has sent what I could desire. The children are classed entirely according to their attainments. The labourer's child may have the highest advantage which the school can offer for 1d. No more favour is shown and no more attention paid to the child that pays 4d. than to the child that pays ld." "We have very few children at 4d., for indeed there are but few of this class in the parish, and the system has only been in operation three months. I have called two meetings in my parish on the subject, and before each meeting I circulated several copies of the "Account of King's Somborne School," which interested the people much, and, I think, led them to agree the mor readily with this new system of payments." may A very simple plan by which the needlework in a school be made in a measure remunerating, and at the same time be agreeable to the parents of the children in attendance, is practised at Kingsteignton in Devonshire. "During the last half year we have adopted the plan of purchasing materials for the school children to make up into articles of dress, which are sold to any of the poor who will purchase them, at a little more than the cost price of the material. The plan has succeeded admirably, having furnished a constant supply of good work to the scholars, and having produced in the estimation of the parents an appreciation of the school as a place of industrial education for their children." "The value of the articles of dress already made by the children amounts to 21. 8s. 4d. The value of the articles sold is 17. 10s. 8d." To the Right Honorable I have the honor to be, &c. E. DOUGLAS TINLING. The Lords of the Committee of Council on Education. 36 39 40 36 53.2 31.77 59 66 29 64 32.3 33:57 18:41 13.58 11.61 8.7 6.83 4.113.19 The amount of accommodation ir square feet divided by 8 will give the number of children who can be properly accommodated. Calculations of area in school-rooms, as compared with the average attendance of scholars, should be made upon this basis. The space of six square feet has been found in practice, to be insufficient for the accommodation of each child. † At the date of closing this return. Per-centage taken on number of children present at examination, |