obtained from a very brief and popular compendium. For the sake of marking some slight difference in the quality of the papers, I am obliged to use the words "moderate" and "imperfect," but the latter term would be more strictly applicable to almost all of them. The spelling is generally correct; the penmanship of one-half the candidates decidedly neat, and of the other half indifferent. W. H. BROOKFIELD. (Signed) English Grammar.—The spelling and penmanship of these papers are creditable; and so is the practical application of grammar rules as exhibited in the construction of the answers. But the amount of acquaintance with the technical rules themselves seems very scanty. W. H. BROOKFIELD. (Signed) Vocal Music.-To estimate the real value of the marks, it should be observed that the examination-paper consists of questions involving a knowledge, not only of musical notation, time, scales, &c., but also some knowledge of harmony; the capacity of reading and writing figured bass, and the primary elements of counterpoint. To obtain the denomination of "excellent," therefore, would require a considerable amount of scientific knowledge. To obtain the mark "good," would require at least the knowledge of the figured bass notation, while the other terms would indicate different degrees of acquaintance with the grammar of music, down to the very slenderest amount possible. Out of ten papers returned from York and Ripon [female training school] three are imperfect and seven failures. The papers from Salisbury and York [female], especially the latter, exhibit a very decided deficiency on the whole subject of music, so much as to warrant the suppositson that it can hardly have been made as yet in any way a subject of instruction at all, at least to those candidates who undertook to work the papers. It may be proper, in fine, to remark, that the capacity of answering questions correctly on the science of music is by no means a measure of the capacity which the candidates may possess of applying it practically to the real purposes of education. Although the scientific study of music must greatly increase the power any one may possess of making music profitable for educational purposes; yet it is only just to many excellent masters and mistresses, who may not be prepared to exhibit any knowledge of its technology, to say that they can and do often possess very considerable power of infusing the spirit of harmony into the youthful mind, and drawing important benefits from it, which the most perfect technical knowledge alone would never be able to secure. (Signed) J. D. MORELL. Geography and Arithmetic.—I have the honour to forward the examinationpapers of the mistresses of the normal schools at York and Ripon, Salisbury, Whitelands, and Warrington; and subjoined an opinion on the merits of the candidates in each establishment. The teaching at Whitelands seem to be far superior to either of the other establishments, and that of Warrington, especially in arithmetic, to be very inferior. There are fewer examples of absurd answers to these papers than to others I have looked over, which shows that training, if it does not teach positively anything very good, at least teaches negatively, restraining from nonsense. (Signed) M. MITCHELL. School Management. Of these papers those written at York and Ripon are a total failure. (Signed) F. C. COOK. Biographical Memoirs.-The spelling is imperfect and the composition very defective in many of these papers. The candidates have had some instruction in this subject; many have read Isaac Walton's Lives, and know something of Hannah More. (Signed) F. C. COOK. Domestic Economy.-The papers from York and Ripon are generally imperfect. There is no evidence that any care has been taken to instruct the pupils in the details or general principles of domestic economy. The few papers which deserve a higher mark than moderate appear to be the productions of persons who have used their common sense and faculties of observation out of the establishment. (Signed) F. C. COOK. Notes of Lesson. These papers show that the teachers have taken pains with this subject. The arrangement is methodical in many of the papers, but the facts are not sufficiently brought out. Some papers are very diffuse, and many evasive. The examination of these papers in general has much strengthened my conviction, that far more pains should be taken in our training institutions to explain the principles, and teach the art of methodical instruction. I have no doubt that the Inspectors, to whom these papers will probably be returned, will have occasion to remark this manifest deficiency in their Report. (Signed) F. C. COOK. The moral training appears to be carefully attended to. In this respect very great credit is due to the Superintendent. I have the honor to be, &c., To the Right Honorable the Lords of the H. W. BELLAIRS. Report by Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, the Rev. HENRY MOSELEY, M.A., F.R.S., on the Chester Diocesan Training School, for the training of Schoolmasters. Visited in October 1848. MY LORDS, In presenting to your Lordships my fourth Report on this Institution, I am glad to be able to say that the buildings, which were in progress when I first visited it, may now be considered to be completed. The chapel, in the erection of which the students have themselves laboured, and which is a very appropriate and beautiful structure, is now in daily use. I know of no other means by which the friends of the Institution could more effectually have promoted its interests than by their munificent contributions to this building. The number of students resident at the time of my inspection (October, 1848) was 32. Their ages varied from 17 to 29; the average age being 23 years. Besides these students seven schoolmasters, educated here, attended my examination as candidates for certificates. The following table contains a statement of the number of certificates granted: I have to bear the same testimony as heretofore to the excellent discipline of the Institution; to the great order which pervades it; and to the judicious arrangements made in respect to the industrial training of the students. The industry, cheerfulness and activity, with which these labours are pursued in the intervals of study, is most pleasing to contemplate. I know no other training school which, in respect to these things. appears to me superior to this; and I attach to them, in a moral point of view, the first importance. Nor do I know any other in which the buildings appear to me better adapted to the use of a training school, or in which those minor arrangements on which the domestic comfort of the inmates, and the good order of the household depend, are more carefully observed. As the result of this care to provide for the good discipline and material welfare of the Institution, I find here a body of men remarkable for their orderly conduct; and, as compared with the same class of persons elsewhere, for their healthful appearance. The greater number of them seem indeed to be men capable of great physical exertion, and enured to labour. The idea of uniting with qualities like these, sound attainments in knowledge, skill in teaching, and the exercise of a well-trained and vigorous understanding, is the idea of this Institution. I wish I could record the impression that this idea was as fully realized on the one side as on the other. The following table contains a statement of the number of students, and the number per cent., to whose papers different degrees of merit were assigned, on a careful examination, by my colleagues and myself. It may be compared with similar tables given in this volume, in respect to other training schools. It appears from this table that more than half the candidates for certificates spell imperfectly and compose inaccurately, as many are but imperfectly instructed in English grammar, and more than that proportion have but a very insufficient knowledge of geography. |