THE Archdeacon of Taunton has given notice of the following resolutions for the next meeting of the Convocation of Canterbury : "1. That the report of the Committee upon the relations between the Church of England and the Committee of Council on Education' be approved by the house. “2. That whereas the order in Council, June 3. 1839, provides that grants be made towards building schools connected with the National Society, the Committee of Council on Education ought not to insist upon any condition of a building grant which is not consistent with the charter and terms of union of the National Society. "3. That whereas the order in Council, August 10. 1840, provides that such portions of the instructions to her Majesty's inspectors as relate to religious teaching in such schools as are in connection with the National School Society, or with the Church of England,' be framed by the archbishops, and such instructions were accordingly so framed, and were made public by the Committee of Council in the year 1840, the Committee of Council on Education ought not to interfere with the order and course of the reli. gious teaching in schools in connection with the National Society or with the Church of England. "4. That the above resolutions be communicated to the Upper House, together with a copy of the report." SCHOLASTIC REGISTRATION ASSOCIATION.-The following educationists have recently joined the General Committee:-Hon. and Rev. Sam. Best, M.A., Abbott's Ann, Andover; Edwin Chadwick, Esq., C.B., Richmond; Joseph Greenwood, Esq., B.A., Owen's College, Manchester; Rev. Jas. Ridgway, M.A., Oxford Diocesan Training College; Very Rev. Principal Tulloch, D.D., St Andrews. MUSICAL EDUCATION.-The council have appointed a committee to inquire into the present state of musical education at home and abroad. A letter has been addressed to the Foreign Office, requesting the aid of Earl Russell in obtaining for the use of the committee, through the intervention of Her Majesty's Ministers abroad, detailed information concerning the musical schools in the principal capitals of Europe, and to this letter the following reply has been re-, ceived :-"Foreign Office, Feb. 6th 1865. Sir,-I have laid before Earl Russell your letter of 27th ultimo, respecting the desire of the council of the Society of Arts to obtain, through the intervention of Her Majesty's representatives at certain places abroad, information with reference to Musical schools at the places indicated, and I am to request that you will inform the council that instructions have been sent accordingly I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, J. HAMMOND." AT the Court at Windsor, the 9th day of March in Council. Her Majesty in Council was this day 1865. Present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty pleased to appoint the Right Hon. Earl de Grey and Ripon, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the time being, to be Members of the Committee of Council on Education. Her Majesty was also pleased, on a representation of the Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education, to appoint the Rev. A. V. Hadley, M.A., of St John's College, Cambridge, to be one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools.-Arthur HELPS. THE professorship of Mathematies in Queen's College, Cork, vacant by Professor Boole's death, has been conferred on a Cambridge Senior Wrangler, Mr B. Romer, of Trinity Hall. Education Abroad. FRANCE.-Parental Obligation. Whether parents should be punished for not sending their children to school, and if so how, are questions still under discussion in France. The chief difficulty seems to lie in discovering a suitable penalty for parental neglect, fine and imprisonment being deemed too severe, and mere disfranchisement too lenient. One writer proposes the adoption of the ancient Athenian law, which he cites on the authority of Vitruvius (Præfat, lib. vi.) thus :-"Sancitum erat legibus græcorum ut parentes omnes a liberis alerentur. Athenienses vero illos tantum parentes ali à filiis jubebant, qui eos artibus erudissent. Itaque ego maximas infinitasque parentibus ago atque habeo gratias quod, Atheniensium legem probantes, me erudien dum curaverunt:" i. e. "By the laws of the Greeks it was required that all parents should be supported by their children. But the Athenians ordained that those parents only should be supported by their sons, who should have educated them by a regular course of training. Accordingly I return the highest thanks and cherish the deepest gratitude to my parents, because, honouring the law of the Athenians, they had me duly educated." Under this law, continues the writer in question, should a father come into court demanding aliment from his children, the judge would inquire whether he had attended to their education: if he had, then the judge would say to the children,-Render to your parents what they gave you pay your debt. If he had not, then the judge would say to the father, -You gave your son life without adding that which makes life truly a blessing; your son owes you nothing, but society takes pity on you, and, being unable to award you a father's honourable aliment, will henceforth allow you the pauper's humiliating dole. Popular Education.—The official report on the state of primary instruction during 1863, just published, contains important information regarding the 600,000 children of the school age in France, who yet received no instruction. On the one hand, the number of children in France who never receive any instruction whatever is calculated not to exceed 200,000; but on the other, the total of those who receive either no instruction whatever, or so little that they remain unaffected by it, so as to grow up unable to read, write, or cypher, is raised to 884,887. One third of the conscripts cannot read; and 36 per cent. of the married cannot sign their names. The former of these facts is contrasted with the statistics of the Prussian army, in which only 3 per cent. of the men are absolutely without school- lore; and the inferiority of France in this respect is set in still bolder relief by the following anecdote. An officer, who superintended the military drill at Potsdam, had, during twelve years, met with only three recruits who could neither read nor write. The fact was deemed singular enough to be inquired into, and it was found that the three ignoramuses were bargemen's sons, who had been born afloat, and had passed all the years of the school-age passing up and down the river. antedated by many years the development of the artistic sense. Compulsory Attendance at School. Throughout Germany attendance at school is enforced by arrangements which may be generally described as follows:-The local registrar furnishes the teacher with a list of the children who ought to be attending school; and the teacher sends to the school committee a list of the absent. Bad weather, great distauce, and harvest-work, are held sufficient excuses; but, failing these, the following penalties are incurred by the parents:-First, a warning from the chairman of the school committee; second, a summons to appear before the school committee for the purpose of being admonished by the chairman; third, a fine of from one to three shillings, inflicted by a magistrate, at the instance of the school committee, and doubled in the case of a second offence, sometimes even imprisonment for not more than twenty-four hours. These penalties are now seldom incurred, thanks to an all-prevailing public opinion which forces even the most indifferent to send their children to school. It is recorded that in 1861 a Strasburg Frenchman, who was hunting in Baden, wished some children to beat the bush for him, and offered them a couple of shillings a-day, but the parents refused because it was a school-day. PRUSSIA. · Middle-Class Schools.-From an exhaustive work, historical and statistical, on the above subject, published in 1864 by Dr Wiese, member of the Educational Board, the following tables are taken: plein exercice and to our own classical schools. In Prussia, as in France, the first class is the highest in a school : Religion,. VI. V. IV. III. II. I. 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 10 10 10 10 10 8 ... 6666 GERMANY.-Monument to Jahn.—In August 1861, The first is the time-table of a Prussian gymna during the celebration at Berlin of the second pan-sium, a school answering to the French college de German gymnastic festival, there was laid in the neighbourhood of that city, the foundation stone of a monument to Jahn, the originator of the modern gymnastic movement. The enthusiasm of that occasion resulted in the transmission to the committee of numerous single stones, contributions to the monument itself from gymnastic associations throughout Germany, and in the collection of about £650, about one-half of the estimated cost. The committee did not press matters during the Schleswig-Holstein enthusiasm, which extinguished every other for the time; now, however, that that enthusiasm has subsided, they renew their appeal. On the foundation laid in 1861, a massive structure is to rise, into the walls of which will be set all the presentation stones; and said structure is to be surmounted by a pedestal of Silesian marble, on which will stand a colossal bronze statue of Frederic Louis Jahn. What next?-There has been published at Weimar, a manual on "Modelling in Clay, for children from four to fourteen years of age!" The author alleges that modelling in clay is felt by children of that age to be a delightful occupation; but teachers cannot be persuaded, and persist in believing that he has French, History and Geography, Total, 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 1 2 ... 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 28 30 30 30 30 30 The former, or lower half of the above programme, represents the time-table of the Prussian pro-gymnasium, a school answering to the French petit college and to the minor grammar schools of England. The following is the time-table of the Prussian The time-table of the lower commercial schools, in which no Latin at all is taught, varies with the locality. BADEN.-Priestly Agitators.-A number of ecclesiastics and their followers have formed themselves into a body in the Grand Duchy of Baden, going about from town to town, and raising an agitation against the law on public instruction. On the 22d ult., they held a meeting at Mannheim, which was attended by nearly 2000 persons, and an address was voted to the Grand Duke. Another meeting was to be held the next day, and a number of priests came in from the country districts to attend it, but the police occupied the churches, and as the ecclesiastics had no place in which to meet, they wandered to and fro in the town without knowing where to go. The populace then followed them and hissed them through the streets. The priests and the country people whom they had brought with them ultimately went towards Ludwigshafen, where they found a still larger crowd, and unfortunately some acts of violence were committed. Two of the clerical party drew knives and wounded a man; they were arrested, but it was with much difficulty that the gendarmerie could protect them against the indignation of the crowd. A commissary of police having summoned the clerical party to disperse, they at length retired. WURTEMBERG.-Popular Education.-A French official report cites Würtemberg, as remarkable even among the States of Germany, for the wide diffusion and the civilising effects of popular education. Not only can every peasant, male and female, read, write, and cypher well; but the working-classes are more respectful, and obliging, and moral than elsewhere in Germany; and the piety which prevails, though earnest, is yet mild and tolerant. These results have been attained by liberality as well as energy on the part of the Government. No teacher, it is said, receives less than £43 per annum of salary, a rate of payment which attracts to the teachers' desk, and keeps there a class of men far above the average both in intelligence and in character. The average cost of this elementary instruction is about a pound sterling per pupil, the funds being derived chiefly trom local endowments and contributions. The government grants in aid amount to only one-twenty-fifth of the whole, CHILI.-Teachers' El Dorado.- According to the January (1865) No. of the Transactions of the Académie des Sciences, the number of elementary schools is being raised from 938 to 1670; and the expenditure is on so liberal a scale-£200 per school, £4 per pupil, half-a-crown per inhabitantthat, in a total budget under a million and a half sterling, the item of elementary instruction will appear at nearly a quarter of a million sterling. Proceedings of Societies. Secretaries are requested to forward short abstracts of their proceedings to the Editor, before the 18th of each Month.] ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFICATED SCHOOLMASTERS OF SCOTLAND.-An Association with this name is being formed in Glasgow, and before our magazine can be in the hands of its readers, the necessary preliminary arrangements will have been completed, and its constitution and rules agreed upon. Its objec ts are stated to be, "To protect and promote the professional interests of the certificated teachers of Scotland;" and it will form an organisation whereby immediate action can be taken on the occurrence of any event affecting the position and interests of Scottish schoolmasters. Already fifty-three gentlemen have expressed their willingness to become members; and it is hoped that soon all the certificated schoolmasters of Scotland will join it, and unite in a great effort for the advancement of their profession in the present educational crisis. The Committee have printed a statement containing objections to the Revised Code, copies of which, with the constitution and rules of the Association, will be gladly forwarded to any inquirer, on application to K. M. Miller, St John's School, Glasgow, Convener of Interim Committee. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.-A meeting of the Edinburgh branch of this corporation was held on Saturday the 11th ult.; Mr Barclay in the chair. Mr Pryde, Secretary to the Association, read an interesting lecture on "The Sun, and its Work." The lecture was illustrated by diagrams, and explained in a lucid and philosophical manner the leading results produced by the sun in our system. An interesting discussion followed; and on the motion of the Rev. Thomas Smith, a cordial vote of thanks was awarded to Mr Pryde. Mr Smith agreed to introduce some subject of professional interest, so as to form the basis of a conversation for next meeting. ARBROATH LOCAL BRANCH OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE. A meeting of the local branch of the Educational Institute of Scotland was held in the High School, on Saturday 21st of January. There was a considerable number of teachers present. Mr Macintosh, teacher of Free Ladyloan School, occupied the chair. Mr Walker, parochial teacher, Arbroath, read a paper on Dr Adam, reviewing in succession his school days at Coates of Burgie, Morayshire, his unsuccessful competition for a bursary at Aberdeen, his college life at Edinburgh, and his promotion to the rectorship of the High School, which position he held at his death in 1809. The essayist dwelt at very considerable length on the leading features of his character, which were unshaken independence and integrity, ardour in the cause of public liberty, purity of manner, and singleness of heart. He shewed likewise, how Dr Adam's life proved the possibility of rising to distinction in the country from any grade of life, and through whatsoever intervening difficulties. On the motion of Mr Gray, of Carnoustie, a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Walker for his excellent paper. Several volumes, treating of educational subjects, were recommended to be added to the library of the Institute, after which the meeting separated. ARBROATH ASSOCIATION OF FREE CHURCH TEACHERS.-The annual meeting of this AssociaAfter tion was held on Saturday the 18th ultimo. the winding up of affairs, and the election of officebearers, Mr J. Wilson Legge, of the Arbroath Art School, read a paper, and exhibited sketches illustrative of the three ancient, the three mediæval, and the three modern styles of ornamental art. Speaking generally of these periods, Mr Legge said that ancient and medieval decoration symbolised religious beliefs and social forms; that, on the contrary, modern times had divorced art from religion. The essayist then pointed out the chief features of the different styles. Simplicity and large proportions, he said, marked Egyptian ornament, high artistic beauty the Greek, and gorgeous massiveness the Roman. The almost exclusive symbolism of the Byzantine style passed into the gorgeous effect which the Saracenic aimed chiefly at, while the Gothic combined these characteristics. The Renaissance was an indiscriminate association of elements, both ancient and modern, the Cinquecento a revival of the most finished style of antiquity, and the Louis Quatorze a mere exhibition of gaiety, without respect to beauty of form or symmetry of parts. At the close of the essay, a discussion took place, which glided away into a lively denunciation of certain prevalent incongruities of modern decoration. Mr Legge received the thanks of the meeting, and Mr Macintosh of Ladyloan F. C. School was appointed next essayist. DONCASTER DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.-The third annual meeting of this association was held on February 18th, in St George's Schools, Doncaster. A most admirable and useful paper was read by Rev. G. Ornsby, vicar of Fishleke, on "The Recreations of the Schoolmaster." The report shewed that the society was in a flourishing state; and that it had established a reference library, which will prove of great value and assistance to the members. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :President, Rev. G. Ornsby; Vice-President, Mi Brooks of Fishleke; Treasurer, Mr Bishop, Doncaster; Secretary, Mr Constable, Thorne; Committee, Mr Johnson, Pollington; Mr Appleby, Norton; Mr Roberts, Thorne. The Month. THE SELECT COMMITTEE. The differences of cordially, we are apt to suspect that the camera doctors are proverbial. When they agree too hopeless. So long as there is active vitality, there will be something for the doctors to fight about; and so long there is hope for the patient. If this be true, we need not yet despair for the Committee of Council on Education. If it is not finally "restored" to usefulness and efficiency, it certainly will not be for want of squabbling amongst the practitioners, professional and amateur, who have taken the case in hand. The most remarkable feature of the case is, that even those doctors who agree in their diagnosis, and so far support one another, differ among themselves as to the proper treatment of the disease. Mr Lowe and Mr Bruce agree in finding violent external eruptions, which both trace to internal disorder. Mr Lowe thinks it quite natural that it should be so, and would leave nature to take its course. Mr Bruce, on the other hand, thinks that the grievances which, he admits, do exist, justify further inquiry. Mr Lowe holds that we know everything we can know about the state of the department. There is no new information to be elicited, and a fresh "consultation" will only harass the patient; for, to adopt Mr Lowe's own figure, "a fly cannot always live under the microscope." Mr Bruce admits that the inquiry is in itself unnecessary; yet it may allay discontent, and he therefore agrees to the "consultation." Here, then, is difference number one, in which, it is to be observed, the same premises lead to opposite conclusions. But it must not be forgotten that Mr Lowe is now free from his official trammels, and as guiltless as he ever was of anything like a conciliatory policy. The present Vice-President, on the contrary, finds it prudent and expedient to yield such a point as this, and his nature is certainly less dogged and more amiable than that of his predecessor. The difference in conclusion, therefore, may fairly be traced to the difference between the men, both in position and in disposition; and for the latter difference especially, let the country and the schoolmasters be grateful. But the debate disclosed another significant point of difference between the past and the present Vice-President; and that, strangely enough, concerned the office which they have successively held. Sir John Pakington had complained that there is no single individual who is responsible to the House for the Education department, and that, from this doubtful and divided responsibility, arise many, if not all, of the evils under which the education of the country is smarting. There is one responsibility, replies Mr Lowe, in the person of the Lord President, to whom the VicePresident stands in the relation of an UnderSecretary of State. Mr Bruce did not like to be put down as a mere under-secretary; and still less, we suspect, would Mr Lowe have liked it had he been in office. So Mr Bruce very properly reminds his predecessor that the Vice-President takes part in the deliberations of the Committee, -a function clearly beyond the role of an undersecretary. But if Mr Bruce admits this, he must also admit the divided responsibility; admitting which, it is hard to see how he can deny its consequences. Mr Bruce, we suspect, is too honest for the place. Mr Lowe would not have made such a mistake in policy, even for the sake of truth. We suspect he must have rather a contempt for his friend's candour. But the differences were not all on one side. While Sir John Pakington and Mr Walter agreed in asking for the Committee, they differed most decidedly in regard to the proposal of the former for a Minister of Public Instruction. Mr Ayrton, again, supported the motion for a Committee, because he believed it would hasten the demolition of the entire system of State education, of which he disapproved: naïvely remarking that Mr Lowe had served his country better than any member of the Cabinet, by dooming the Education department. Such is the confusion that prevails on the Education question; and this, it seems to us, proves, if nothing else does, how much need there is for further inquiry and grave deliberation. The debate in which these incidents occurred is unquestionably the most important Educational discussion that has taken place in either House of Parliament for many years. It was more important than the debate on the Revised Code as a whole, or on the breach of faith, or on the conscience clause, or on the endowment minute. More important, because it went deeper; it went to the root of the whole matter, to the source of all the trouble and discontent which the Committee of Council has caused. That root and source is, the faulty and anomalous constitution of the Committee. It is to its peculiar constitution that we owe the extraordinary powers which it arrogates to itself, the unusual method by which its administration is carried out, and the strange manner in which it treats the House of Commons, and in which "the office" treats the public. Hence arises, too, the uncertainty about the quarter in which the responsibility for its actions rests. When a number have charge, nobody is to blame. And the dubiety affords convenient shelter for the transaction, in a quiet way, of disagreeable affairs, or for the introduction, in an equally quiet way, of sweeping and startling changes. In constitution, the department is a kind of |