COPY of CORRESPONDENCE with the INDIAN GOVERNMENT, showing the II. MADRA S. Despatches to Madras. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 13 May (No. 37) 1857. II. Madras. (Letter, dated 11 February (No. 1) Para. 8. THE object of this grant is of considerable interest, being stated to be "The first effort in India specially directed 1856, paras. 71 to 73.) A grant of 7,000 rupees made in aid of building and furto the supply of an European education for the better classes of nishing a school-house, for the instruction the Mussulman population separate from the Hindoos." Addi- of Mahomedans only, to be built in the vicinity of Triplicane. The total tional interest arises from the proposal having originated in expense is reported to be 23,000, and the a bequest by a daughter of the first Lord Harris, for a church remainder of the funds arise almost or schools in South India; and, as all the conditions attaching the Church Missionary Society, which entirely from a legacy in the hands of to grants in aid have been accepted by the Church Missionary is pledged to the permanent maintenance committee in connexion with the school, we entirely approve the aid extended to the undertaking. We wish to be informed how far this institution is fulfilling the professed object of supplying an European education for the better classes of the Mahomedan population. This will be best shown by your forwarding to us, when the school shall have been a reasonable time in operation, a return of the rank and position in life of the parents of all the students. of the school. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 13 May (No. 37) 1857. Para. 9. WE hope that the completion of the educational establishment in your Presidency will render it unnecessary to dispense, on any future occasion,, with the rule which requires a report from an Inspector before a grant is made in aid of school. any (Letter dated 11 February (No. 1) 1856, paras. 74 to 77.) to be established by the inhabitants of Honore, in North A grant made in aid of an Anglo-vernacular school about Canara. It is expected that 50 rupees per mensem will amount realised by these means in each month is to be be raised by local subscriptions, and a sum equal to the paid on behalf of Government, its continuance beyond one year being conditional on the Report of the Government Inspector. PUBLIC Despatch to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 2 December (No. 69) 1857. Para. 1. WE cannot withdraw or modify the orders which, after full consideration, have been issued, prohibiting the employment of clergymen in direct connexion with the measures of Government, for the promotion of general education in India. (Letter, dated 27 June (No. 12) 1857.) With reference to para. 17 of Court's Despatch, No. 37, of 1857, forward minutes on the subject of the engagement of clergymen in connexion with Government education in India, and solicit permission to retain the services of the Rev. Messrs. Perceval and Gundust in their present employments. II. Madras. 2. We must therefore insist upon the removal, as soon as you can supply their successors, of Mr. Perceval and Dr. Gundert from the appointments which they hold. We do not doubt their being qualified to teach the vernacular languages; but when it is known that laymen are required to fill their situations, the salaries assigned to those services will, we trust, induce other qualified persons to undertake them. 3. We think it unnecessary to discuss the arguments adduced by your president, who is strongly of opinion that it would be advisable to retain Messrs. Perceval and Gundert in their present appointments, or of Mr. Elliot, who thinks the persons best qualified would be found among the missionaries, since we have determined that the rule we have laid down must be strictly adhered to. 4. We do not include in the prohibition the nomination of clergymen as members of the university senates, provided it is clearly made known throughout the Presidency of Madras that those bodies are intended to comprise learned men of all religious persuasions. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 1 September (No. 47) 1858. (Letter, dated 9 August (No. 23) 1856, paras. 2 to 9). Reports on the state and progress of the vernacular schools established in the three delta talooks of the sub-division of Rajahmundry, by the sub-collector, Mr. G. N. Taylor. Para. 5. THE progress of this system of schools, which had been in operation less than 12 months at the date of the latest report, is very satisfactory, and affords a good earnest of the success to be expected from the plan sanctioned on the suggestion of Mr. Taylor. Besides the Tehseel, and Samut or Circle Schools, the cost of which is defrayed by Government, with some assistance from the people, 55 village schools had been established at the expense of the village communities. The attendance of scholars, which had been 1,422 at the end of six months from the commencement of the experiment, is stated to have risen to 1,790 within the next few months. 6. We approve, at least for the present, the intention not to make any alteration in the plan on which these schools have been established, for the sake of bringing it into more exact conformity with the system which is to be introduced into the Presidency generally, and from which it differs only in a few minor points. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort (Letter, dated 9 August (No. 23) 1856, Para. 8. WE have read with great interest Lieutenant Mac- stations. 9. We approve your having called on the Director of Public Instruction for a detailed report on the Goomsoor schools from the first commencement of measures for promoting education in the district. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort (Letter dated 9 August (No. 23) 1856, paras. 26 and 27, Para. 15. THE class of deputy inspectors correalso paras. 35 and 36 of letter dated 11 November (No.34) sponding to the officers formerly designated zillah 1856.) On a further representation from Government 20 deputy inspectors were sanctioned by the Government of visitors, in the North Western Provinces, may be India as an addition to the educational staff of the Madras tried for the purpose of efficiently carrying out the Presidency, being one for each zillah. A statement of the establishments of deputy inspectors was subsequently general plan of vernacular education. approved of by the Government of India. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort Para. 29. THE question of grants in aid to schools, unconnected with Government, being under consideration, we forbear to enter upon it now, further than to desire that on this subject no fresh arrangements be entered into at present, except such as may be of a purely temporary and provisional character. with Government. II. Madras. additional 30. The recommendations of Mr. Arbuthnot seem to us for (Letter, dated 11 November (No. 34) the most part to have been marked by sound judgment, and to 1856, paras. 4 to 9, also paras: 23 and evince a correct conception of the principles on which it was 1857). Forwarding a printed copy of 24, letter, dated 28 October (No. 24) intended that grants in aid should be made. In a few of the earlier proceedings relating to cases, however, the grant seems to have been recommended more grants in aid of schools unconnected from a regard to the wishes of the conductors, than from a consideration of the condition of the schools. In the Trichinopoly Fort School, in the Madras Native Progressive Seminary, in the St. Thomas' Mount School, and in the Vepery Poor Schools, it seems very doubtful from the past state of the schools, and from the condition of the establishments at the time, whether there existed the prospect of such a system of instruction being pursued, as would justify a grant of public money. In all cases of such a nature, special reports should be required from the inspectors; and it must in all cases be understood that the continuance of the grants will be conditional on the state of efficiency into which the school, after a fair trial, shall be found to have been brought. 31. We approve the intention of Mr. Arbuthnot to propose a separate arrrangement for the improvement of village schools, and we desire to be put in possession of his plan whenever it may be submitted to you. 32. With reference to Mr. Richards' remarks regarding the extent of Scriptural knowledge possessed by the students of the Tinnevelly Mission Schools, we have to remark that the proceedings of Mr. Richards were opposed to our orders under which the reports of the inspectors of schools are to be strictly limited to the secular acquirements of the pupils in the Government and aided schools. Mr. Richards has now ceased to hold office in the Department of Education; but we desire that the attention of the Director of Public Instruction be called to the subject, with a view to his requiring in future a strict adherence to our orders on the part of all his subordinates. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort (Letter, dated 11 November (No. 34) Para. 39. THE reasons stated in the letter of Mr. Arbuthnot, and in the memoranda of the other officers submitted by him, 1856, paras. 23 to 25.) Further correspondence regarding the constitution of are conclusive against the amalgamation of Major Maitland's the proposed civil engineering college School with the intended college of civil engineering. The Go- at Madras, with special reference to vernment of India consider that this school may be the practical Major Maitland's school for the trainthe question of amalgamating with it, training school at which the students of the new engineering ing of ordnance artisans. college shall learn the use of tools and machinery. It seems, however, that the training now given at the ordnance artificers' school, even though the object has been to make the pupils generally useful, will not meet the requirements of the Public Works Department, and the reliance placed on this school for the purpose, is stated by Major F. C. Cotton in his memorandum of 1st September 1856 to be enough to account for the absence in the artificers' corps of the superior skill which is required in the many arts employed in civil engineering. The plan of the Government of India makes no provision for the supply of this requirement of the Public Works Department; and we are doubtful whether even for those pupils of the engineering college, who are designed for superintendence rather than for practice, the gun carriage manufactory will afford the practical instruction which is admitted to form an essential part of their training. 40. Observing the opinions expressed on the subject by Colonel Faber and Major F. C. Cotton, we think it yet requires consideration, but we await your 186 (II.)-Sess. 2. II. Madras. further proceedings with reference to the views of the Government of India, modified as here reported; and we trust that you will be able before long to frame a plan for the establishment of a college of civil engineering on a thoroughly efficient footing. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 1 September (No. 47) 1858. (Letter dated 11 Nov. (No. 34) 1856, Para. 43. WE entirely approve the establishment of these paras. 37 to 42; also paras. 16 and 17 schools, and shall look with interest for a report of their operaof letter dated 24 January (No. 2) 1857.) Experimental establishment tion. We are not aware of the number of the budagas people, or of four schools in the Neilgherries for of the relations, if any, which exist between them and the other the instruction of the budagas or native settlers, at a total cost of 40 rupees per tribes of hill people in the Neilgherries. If it shall be found. mensem, and a grant of 400 rupees, impracticable to induce the Todas and the Koters to attend the inade for the erection of school-houses. schools established for the budagas, we trust that some means may yet be devised for bringing those tribes under instruction, and thus raising them from their present degraded state. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 6 October (No. 5) 1858. (Letter dated 25 August (No. 17) 1857, paras. 2 to 16. Also letter dated 28 October (No. 23) 1857, para. 17, and letter dated 24 December (No. 33) 1857, paras. 10 to 16. which attended the school within the first year of Para. 13. It is gratifying to notice the success Report on the normal school for 1856-57.) A scheme for the re-organisation of the school, sanctioned on the recom- its establishment, and which appears to have been mendation of the Director of Public Instruction, at a cost as great as, under the circumstances, could have within the amount (1,045 rupees per mensem) allowed for the subordinate establishment of the school by the been expected. Government of India. 14. The alterations sanctioned on the recommendation of Mr. Arbuthnot had reference both to the training department, and to the primary and practising school. The objects of the changes were to afford more help to the principal in the higher department, and to render the primary school more efficient and more useful to the normal students. 15. Your general approval of the plan is concurred in, and the intention to bring the system of pupil teachers into operation in the model school is noticed with special approval. The formation of a preparatory class for students not yet qualified to enter the normal school was calculated to meet the want of properly qualified candidates, which was much felt by the principal; and a class of vernacular teachers was evidently so much needed, that the sanction which you gave to its establishment is approved, notwithstanding that the agency available for its management was not of so satisfactory a nature as could have been desired. EXTRACT Public (Educational) Despatch to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 6 October (No. 5) 1858. Para. 18. MR. ARBUTHNOT has made arrangements with the Rev. Messrs. Pope and Bower to supply a series of works in Tamil, suitable for the several classes of Anglo-vernacular schools, vernacular schools of a higher order, and village schools. Dr. Gundert is engaged in the preparation of books in Malayalim, and Mr. Arbuthnot is in correspondence with the Rev. H. Moegling respecting the preparation of school books in Canarese, in supercession of a larger scheme, which that gentleman proposed for the formation of a general vernacular literature for Southern India. It is intended that the several works when ready for the press shall be printed at presses to be maintained at the office of the Director of Public Instruction, this being thought a preferable arrangement to that first suggested, of maintaining presses for printing educational works in connexion with the several provincial schools. 19. These arrangements are approved, and the payment to the several gentlemen engaged, of the sum assigned to them on account of the works which they have completed, is sanctioned. |