The Practical Teacher.

A MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL

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Nos. I. and II. of The

Monthly Notes.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK ON INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS AND REFORMATORIES.—The new building of the York Certified Industrial Boys' School was opened by His Grace the Archbishop of York, president of the institution, on the 31st January. After the singing of a hymn, and prayer by the Rev. F. Lawrence, the chaplain, His Grace said that they were met that day on a very important business, to open three rooms in connection with the York Industrial School-the room in which they then were, and two others. It seemed to the committee that at present there was cause to be anxious about the future of industrial schools; and if they would pardon him for a minute, he would state what the causes of anxiety were. An industrial school, such as that, was a school for the waifs and strays of the population-those boys who were growing up in neglect, and with every prospect of ruin before them unless a helping hand was stretched out to them. But there were boys who had not yet come within the reach of the law for any criminal offence. A reformatory was quite a different thing. The child who had got for the first time into the hands of the magistrates, instead of being sent to a prison and so branded as a gaol-bird, was taken aside from the associations that surrounded him, and was shut up for a definite period in a reformatory school, in which he learnt some useful trade, and became, under proper management, a useful and excellent member of society. There was always expressed a warm wish and a constant intention to keep the industrial school apart from the reformatory, and for this very obvious reason. He could imagine nothing more cruel, more unjust, than to associate a boy whose only guilt was the misfortune of being poor, and being obliged to run about in the streets for want of a home to resort to, with those who had actually

committed some crime. In the words of Sir Stafford Northcote in 1857, the matter was very well expressed :-These children demand care and attention, not merely from motives of humanity, but from reasons of state policy connected with our criminal legislation; the difficulty of dealing with our criminals would be materially diminished if we could cut off the supply of those criminals at its source. These children not having committed crime, it would be unjust to associate them with those who had.' There the whole question lay in a nutshell. His Grace then referred to the state of poor children in the London districts, and said that their condition was too painful to think of. But there was one comfort-an institution like that. Why evil was allowed in the world, no one would ever tell; but one reason of its being allowed they might easily learn. Let them try to deal with it, try to do something to help it, then they would understand that it was to them a good—an incentive to noble exertions; and they felt they were doing a service to their great Master, Christ, because they were doing to His little ones what He would have done to them.

BEDFORD ASSOCIATION OF ELEMENTARY TEACHERS. -A meeting of the association in and around Bedford was held on Saturday, January 28th, in St. Mary's Schools, Bedford, under the presidency of Mr. Hall, of Ravenstone. There was a good attendance, the subject for discussion being the representation on the executive of schools in agricultural districts. On the motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Hammond, it was unanimously resolved, 'That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that country districts should be more adequately represented on the executive, and that steps be now taken to secure that object.' Mr. Powell, of Northill, was then nominated, and a resolution passed pledging the associations there represented

to do all they can to secure his election on purely agricultural grounds. As a means of securing the cooperation of teachers throughout the country, it was decided to send letters to the educational papers, pointing out the great need of an agricultural representative, and asking the associations to support Mr. Powell with their votes at the conference to be held at Sheffield, in Easter.

THE BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT UNION.-The annual meeting of this union was held on the 16th February. The new president, Mr. Clark, after thanking them for the honour conferred on him, said that he would confine his remarks to that part of the proposals which referred to the administration of the grant. This was the supreme consideration both to managers and teachers, and was in so unsatisfactory a condition that he believed their whole efforts would have to be concentrated to put this on a satisfactory basis. He did not blame Mr. Mundella, who had done more than any previous statesman to earn the esteem and confidence of teachers and to prove his interest in the subject, for the monstrous proposition in art. 14 as to 100 per cent. for the maximum grant. Such an outrage on common sense could only have emanated from permanent officials removed from the ordinary experience and sympathies of human life. It betokened the most profound ignorance of the real bearings of this question. The president quoted figures from the Times to show that by the operation of the six months' clause 500,000 more children would be examined, and that this would probably bring down the average percentage to sixty-six. If schools favourably conditioned were taken into account, the great majority would therefore have hard work to earn a half of the maximum grant on the average attendance. And this was on the present high-pressure system, which teachers had fondly hoped was to be brought to an end, or at least modified. He argued strongly for the seventy-five per cent. demand which he believed under the proposals would be difficult to get, and which he thought would show very high results in the great majority of schools. Art. 14 would inflict great injustice not only on managers and boards, who were able to take care of themselves, but on teachers of schools in certain conditions. Forty per cent. might be better in some than ninety in others. The special merit grant could not possibly adjust the difference of grant in such cases, or if it could it would be a most powerful and dangerous weapon in the hands of any man, whether inspector, minister, or practical teacher. This article (14) he felt sure would prove a burden too heavy to be borne, and he believed that if teachers were unanimous and in earnest, their demands would be joyfully conceded before long, not only to their own satisfaction, but to the best interests of the children and the nation, and to the complete satisfaction of the department itself.

HACKNEY DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS. The annual Soirée of this flourishing Association took place on January 27th. Mr. Day-we beg his pardon, Captain Day-the President, did the honours of the evening. After light refreshment, dancing began about half-past eight, and was kept up till the small hours of the morning, to the lively strains of an efficient band. The evening's pleasure was also enhanced by the musical efforts of Miss Annie With, Mr. Need

ham, and Mr. T. Gardner. The last-named gentleman acted, with his usual courtesy, as M.C. Among the visitors we noticed Messieurs and Mesdames Heller, Devnish, Day, Tomlinson, Jeffries, Waugh, Gardiner, Filer, and Powel.

Gossip.

With this number we begin our second volume, and avail ourselves of this fitting opportunity of rendering our warmest thanks to the many friends all over the world who have interested themselves in the fortunes of our Journal. Its success, which dates from the first number, has, we are grateful to say, been permanent.

As it is our aim to make our magazine indispensable to every teacher, we are always glad to have suggestions from our readers. Some, however, must, we fear, be disappointed at our non-compliance with their requests. To such, we can only say, that our space is limited, and that if we had attempted to carry out half the 'special features' kindly sent us by correspondents we should have had to quadruple our pages. In making a selection, we try to choose those subjects of interest to the grestest number of our readers. We are sincerely sorry that we have not been able to print more articles bearing directly on the schoolmistresses' work. The requests have been so many, and still continue so urgent for these articles, that we have decided to issue on the 23rd of March a new ladies' educational monthly. No effort shall be spared to make it worthy the support of our fair friends. We need only further state here, that several of the first living educationalists, both men and women, have been engaged, and are now writing for the magazine, particulars of which will be duly announced in the educational weeklies.

Perhaps we may be pardoned for drawing attention to the little journal, The Scholar, which we present with our current issue. It is hoped, to use the old hackneyed phrase, that it will meet 'a long-felt want.' Teachers who adopt it in their schools, may rely that the contents will always be kept abreast of the Code.

Speaking of the Code and its requirements, reminds us that a few minutes ago we received a card of invitation to 'A Conference of Educational Publishers.' The subject for consideration may interest a large section of our Metropolitan teachers. It is the Requisition List of the London School Board.' The mere fact of the leading educational publishers of London meeting together to discuss such a subject, is evidence enough that there is something radically wrong in the framing of the above list.

It has always seemed to us little short of an insult to the London teachers that they are not permitted to use what books they deem most suitable for their scholars.

Further than this, it is no disrespect to the members of the School Management Committee to say that, with one exception-that of Mr. Heller, himself

till lately an elementary teacher-they are not qualified to make a selection of books for use in elementary schools.

The easiest solution of this question, which is as annoying to the worried teacher as to the luckless publisher, is this: The Board has already an account with every respectable publisher, therefore let the teacher be free to select what books he likes, not overstepping the average amount allowed for each child. Supposing, for argument's sake, that a bad selection was made; it needs no wiseacre to see that such a course would work its own cure in a very short time.

Then again, what an economy, not only in public money, but in the time of the members of the School Management Committee, would be effected. Surely the members, in their own interests and that of the ratepayers, should be willing to discontinue this farce. What would be said if we engaged the distinguished physician who sits at the Board, on the condition that in prescribing for us he should use certain medicines of our own choice! Such a proposition would be preposterous. In no walk of life other than that of the teacher's would it be tolerated.

Professor Stokes, of Cambridge, has accepted the appointment of Burnett Lecturer in connection with Aberdeen. He will hold the appointment three years, if he delivers a course of lectures at Aberdeen upon 'recent researches in physical science, with special reference to natural religion.' These are the new regulations of the Burnett trust, and the lectures have been instituted in place of the Burnett Prizes which were awarded every forty years. The prize in 1855 was won by Principal Tulloch, and that of 1815 by Archbishop Sumner.

Mr. E. Nicholson, Librarian of the London Institution, has been appointed by the curators to be librarian of the Bodleian, vacant by the death of Mr. Coxe. It is understood that Mr. Nicholson possesses excellent qualifications for the office as respects practical knowledge and experience.

We hear that Blackwood's Diaries have this year met with unusual success. The sales have been between one and two hundred thousand, and the public have had the choice of buying them at prices varying from one penny to twelve shillings.

Mr. Oscar Wilde, the apostle of culture,' and the 'Postlethwaite' of Punch, seems to be creating a great sensation across the water. He was not satisfied with his little trip over the Atlantic, and he doesn't seem to think much of Niagara, judging by his note in the memorandum book of the hotel at that place. He says, 'the roar of the waters is like the roar when the

William Chambers, EE.D.

'THE hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.' So wrote the inspired penman-the wisest of men. We need no better example illustrative of the above sacred truth than the life of William Chambers, whose portrait and autograph we have (through the ready courtesy of some of his Edinburgh friends) the pleasure to present to our readers.

All the world knows that the jubilee year of 'Chambers's Journal' has just been signalized by the appearance of 'Reminiscences of a Long and Busy Life' in that popular periodical. Upon reading this remarkably interesting and profitable résumé of a life's work,

than this literary and commercial success to be thankful for. It is that the hand which penned the Introductory article in the first number of the Journal in 1832 has been spared to write the present address.'

William Chambers was born in 1800, his oldest distinct recollection being the rejoicings consequent on the triumph of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, October 21st, 1805. Here is the story of his early education ::

'I was not fated to receive more than a plain education in the place of my birth, a small country town in the south of Scotland. Matters there were still somewhat primitive. In the schools I passed through there was not a map, nor a book on geography, or

it occurred to us that as the fortunes of the house of Chambers had been so closely identified with educational literature, and that as few indeed must be the schools in which some at least of their many excellent publications are not used, it would be a fit thing to give in our pages a sketch of the early career of the founder of this eminent firm, whose name has long since become a household word.

In so doing we shall, of course, have to draw largely upon the Reminiscences' themselves for our information. To few men is it given to write as follows:

'I think, however, that I am fairly entitled to feel gratified at the singular success of a work which, relying on the support of no party or sect, nor on any species of artistic attraction, should have so long kept its ground, and that now, after a lapse of fifty years, should. judging by circulation, be more popular than it was in the early stages of its career. There is more

history, or science. The only instruction consisted of the three R's, finishing off with a dose of Latin. I was a simple and cheap arrangement, diversified with boisterous outdoor exercises, and a certain amount of fighting, in which I was forced to take a part. My instruction in Latin came abruptly to a conclusion. Lieutenant Waters, in one of his old novels, says, with more energy than eloquence, that he still bore, the marks of "Homo" on his person. I likewise have the honour of bearing similar evidences of my acquaintance with Homo. One day, not being quite prompt in answering a question in Latin grammar, my teacher, in one of his irascible moods (which were always distinguishable by his wearing a short bottle-green coat), lifted a ruler and inflicted a sharp blow on the top my head, which almost deprived me of consciousness, and which, while leaving a small protuberance, is on occasions, after an interval of seventy years, still felt to

of