R

I am happy to tell you, that my people are beginning to take greater interest in the schools, and that I can now get two visitors weekly to examine the progress of the schools. I have no doubt, notwithstanding our difficulties, of ultimate success.

S.

The 12 parallel desks cost 111. 8s. with forms to seat 96.

T

'Masters of schools should be thoroughly convinced the Inspector's opinion of a school is not formed from the excellence of one class, or from its superiority in one branch of instruction. The school must be taken as a whole. Good ciphering, therefore, will not compensate for bad writing, nor clever geography for absence of well-laid foundations, still less for deficiency in religious knowledge.

U

Untrained masters pay often too much attention to trivial things, while they neglect matters of more moment. They also often work the 1st class well, and omit proper observance of the lower children.

Mistresses are less anxious in general for pupil-teachers than masters: this I believe to arise from their feeling themselves unqualified to carry the pupil teacher through the required course of study.

School deeds should be preserved in the parish chest, else they may be lost

At the Manchester examination of masters in Easter week, there were 79 candidates, who conducted themselves to my great satisfaction. There is an evident improvement since last year in the character of the men, who for the most part seem well-disposed and intelligent. There were not, however, many candidates who remained for the higher subjects, and I am sorry to add, that the papers generally, were not so well worked as last year.

I have in conclusion, my Lords, to lament the sudden decease of the late Lord Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Stanley, a prelate eminently distinguished by his earnest zeal in the cause of Education. His loss has been severely felt through the whole of his extensive diocese, and will be especially regretted by the active promoters of education among the working classes, of whom he was ever the adviser and friend. It was one of his last official acts, to publish a letter of exhortation to his clergy, to preach for the extension of the Training Institution at Norwich, a work cheerfully performed, I believe, through the whole diocese. The measures he took to enforce the building of parsonages, and to promote the residence of the clergy, have been also most successful, and very beneficial to the cause of education among the poor. A new school-house is almost invariably a necessary consequent on the new rectory, or

vicarage, and thus during the last ten years, both more and better
schools have extensively been established in these counties, which
promise to bring forth much fruit to the glory of God, and tend
to the happiness, welfare, and perhaps even safety of the State.
The number of miles travelled has been 3,945.

The number of children examined has been 11,864.

338

North Midland District.

Name of School,

and

Date of Inspection.

NORTH MIDLADIST.

Tabulated Reports, in detail, by Her Majesty's Ins

SCHOOLS REGULARLY INSPECTED.

Etymology.

.00

10

8

1

14

8

1

REMARKS.

1. Perry Bar.-Supported by the Hon. F. Gough. This is an Infant school, with a few elder children
instruction might be improved. The mistress gave a fair gallery lesson, but needs additional training. The bak
are rather confined.

2. West Bromwich, Hill Top.-The yards of this school have been newly gravelled, and a circular swing
The schools are improved, but the discipline is too stiff and formal. The instruction is necessarily at a low stan
on account of the youth and irregularity of the children: only one boy is 12 years old. I was much pleased wahu

Infant mistress.

3. Handsworth, St. James's.-It would be much better if these two schools were united, and formed one Infant
There have been three mistresses in the year. The buildings are getting out of repair; and there are to funts
support the schools, of whose conduct I cannot report so favourably as 1 should wish.

4. Harborne.-The master and mistress have only lately been appointed, and it is not fair to judge of their scho
its present state. There is evidently much for them to do, with every promise of success, as the children are very

ones.

petes