The English Journal of Education

PROPOSALS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDUSTRIAL TRAINING INSTITUTION FOR SCHOOLMISTRESSES, FOR THE DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER.

AT the annual meeting of the Herts. Division of the Board of Education for the Diocese of Rochester, held at St. Albans, on the 7th of April last; the Bishop of Rochester in the chair-a resolution was adopted, recommending the establishment of an institution for the training of schoolmistresses for the diocese of Rochester, with especial reference to industrial employments; and a committee was appointed by the bishop, consisting of members of both the Essex and Herts. boards, to consider the expediency of attempting to found such an institution for the diocese, and the probability of its success.

In pursuing the inquiry, which they were thus directed to make, the committee have become even more sensible than before, of the importance of the contemplated object, both to the improvement of the present system of educating the poorer classes, and to the interests of the managers and supporters of schools.

The difficulty of obtaining competent mistresses for schools, especially in the rural districts, is universally felt and lamented. The training institutions, now in existence, are insufficient to supply the demands even of the dioceses in which they are in operation; and the clergy and managers of schools are constrained to employ the services of mistresses confessedly incompetent to conduct the work of education in a satisfactory manner.

An institution for the special supply of well-trained schoolmistresses for our own diocese, would obviously present the best means of successfully meeting this fundamental difficulty.

But it has also become very apparent, that the want of systematic instruction in industrial employments, renders our education far less popular than it might be made, more especially in the schools for females. It is a just and common complaint, that girls educated in these schools are not prepared for the active and manual employments, which it will be their chief business in after life to fulfil. The unsatisfactory results of this defect are too frequently perceptible. If engaged as domestic servants, they are found to be unacquainted with the common duties of their place; and, as daughters or wives, they are helpless, untidy, and improvident, because they are ignorant of the common principles of household management, and the economy of food and clothing, and are often unable even to make or mend their own, or their husband's and children's clothes. A most desirable advance will consequently be made in education, if it be found possible, in schools for females, to furnish competent and regular instruction in these common arts of domestic usefulness and economy. This object can only be accomplished by an

effective method of training the future mistresses of our schools in the practice of those arts, and in the habit of teaching them to others. Impressed with this view of the case, the committee cordially concur in the recommendation that the industrial system shall form a prominent feature in the proposed training institution.

The promises of liberal assistance to such institutions, which are contained in the Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education, have given birth to these proposals. For they hold out the hope of such large annual grants from the government, that the committee are warranted in believing, that this training institution, when once in active operation, and with its full complement of pupils will scarcely need any local subscriptions for its maintenance. The clergy, therefore, and managers of schools throughout the diocese, may expect to command the supply of competent mistresses,without being called upon for any inconvenient contribution to the annual expenses of the institution.

Another direct, and very considerable advantage, must also be borne in mind. In the present state of things, the salary of the schoolmistress is usually defrayed from the local funds, which are often so deficient, as either to impose a heavy burden upon the clergyman, or to compel the employment of a less competent teacher. But to every mistress, who goes out of the proposed training institution, to take the charge of any school, the government engage to make an allowance equivalent, in most cases, to one-third of her salary, relieving thereby the clergyman, or the local managers, to that amount, and securing to them, at the same time, the services of an efficient mistress.

This is a consideration worthy of all attention from those who are interested in promoting the education of the poor, for it gives a vast impulse to that great work, by opening the way to obtain mistresses of a superior character for their schools, without any necessary increase of the local burdens.

The committee have ascertained that the probable wants of the diocese of Rochester will be adequately supplied by an institution capable of containing sixty pupils. It is therefore intended to make the requisite arrangements for training that number of schoolmistresses. The system would embrace, in addition to the usual educational routine, a regular course of practical instruction in all the branches of useful household employment, such as cutting out and making plain clothes, washing, ironing, baking, cooking, &c., and the whole ordinary work of a domestic servant.

It is intended that a practising school should form a part of the institution. The committee are anxious that it should also, if possible, embrace an infant school, in which the pupils may have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the system of infant training, in order that they may be prepared to undertake the education of the youngest children where it may be required.

The management of the institution would be entrusted to a female superintendent, who would be responsible for its entire government; and to a chaplain, who would have the charge of the religious instruction. There will be a committee of the diocesan board of education, appointed by the bishop, under whose direction, and occasional inspection, the institution will be carried on, and in whom will be vested a general authority of supervision over all its departments. The superintendent would, of course, be a person competent to direct the entire system of intellectual, as well as of industrial instruction, and to give to the latter of these branches that practical efficiency, which is indispensable to the success of the whole plan.

It might seem difficult to secure the services of any one endowed with these varied qualifications for carrying out a system somewhat special and novel in its character; but the committee have been fortunate enough, in the course of their inquiries on this subject, to meet with such a person-one possessing both natural aptitude and ability for teaching; and the experience of some years, acquired in the management of the female training school at Whitelands. Her husband, also, who is a clergyman, and formerly connected with the National Society's Boarding Institution for schoolmasters, appears to be well calculated for the office of chaplain. The success of all educational institutions is mainly dependent upon the personal qualities of those who are at the head of them, and it would, therefore, be a most important step towards the efficiency of the proposed institution, to obtain the services of two persons, so peculiarly well qualified for their

respective duties by taste, ability, and experience. But the committee have not ventured upon this decisive measure at present. Their first step must be to ascertain the feeling of the friends of education throughout the diocese, with regard to the projected undertaking. With this view, these proposals are now submitted to their consideration; and the result will determine, whether the amount of support which they call forth, in aid of the establishment of the training institution, will justify the attempt to confer upon the diocese so great and permanent a benefit.

The institution, when once established, as has been already stated, may be regarded as needing little, if any, local support. The whole expense of it will, accordingly, consist in the first purchase of the site-in the erection of the requisite buildings-and the supply of any deficiencies of receipt from the pupils, or from the government, during the first three years.

As the assistance from the government will be in proportion to the outlay, and to the satisfactory nature of the arrangements, contained in the building and its appurtenances, for industrial training, the committee are disposed to recommend the erection of new buildings, rather than the purchase and adaptation of any already existing; unless such should happen to be found in a favourable locality, and well calculated for the purpose.

In the former case, the estimate for the purchase of the site, and the completion of the requisite buildings, is £7,700.

Towards this amount it is believed, that £3,000, at least, will be received from the committee of council; and £700 may probably also be procured from other grants of a public nature, leaving £4,000 unprovided for.

But, in addition to this expenditure, the committee calculate that £1,000 may be required to carry the infant institution through the difficulties of the first three years. For it is suggested, if a satisfactory return be made to these proposals, that the establishment be commenced forthwith, and the school conducted in some temporary residence, until the permanent buildings are ready for occupation. There will therefore remain the sum of £5,000 to be raised, if possible, by voluntary contributions throughout the diocese; a large sum indeed, but bearing a small proportion to the amount of good which may fairly be expected to arise from this valuable institution. And it may reasonably be hoped, that at the present juncture, so critical in the development of the system of national education -so pressing in its claims upon the sincere friends of the Church, that she may be enabled to maintain her legitimate position as the instructor of her own children; the liberal and the wise will be disposed to submit to a temporary sacrifice, which they would not be called upon to make, were an object of inferior importance at stake.

While the committee feel, that it would be premature, even if it were possible, to determine any thing definitively with regard to the site, they would suggest, that it be in some central position with reference to the general convenience of the whole diocese.

N.B. As the expenditure requisite for the erection and first maintenance of the institution, will be spread over three years, it is proposed, that any donations towards it, if such be the desire of the contributor, may be divided into three equal sums, and be paid in three successive years.

(Signed)
VERULAM,

CHARLES PARR BURNEY, ARCHD.,

W. M. T. FARQuhar, Bart.,

C. W. PULLER,

GEORGE MOODY,

CHARLES B. PEARSON,

JOHN BRAMSTON,

ROBERT EDEN,

G. B. BLOMFIELD,

LEWIS DEEDES.

CAMBRIDGE VOLUNTARY THEOLOGICAL EXAMINATION, 1847. Examiner :-Rev. John James Blunt, B.D. (St. John's College), Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

1. What were the charges on which our Lord was condemned? Can you show that they were made according to the character of the tribunals before which he

was brought? How do you reconcile the circumstances attending the martyrdom of St. Stephen with the declaration of the Jews, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death?" How was St. Paul treated by the government, when he was first sent to Rome? Answer this question in the words of the Acts. How, when he went there the second time? Answer this question in St. Paul's own words? What was the interval between the two visits? What might account for the difference in the treatment of him? Which was probably his last epistle ? What internal evidence does it offer of being so?

2. What were the injunctions of Trajan with respect to the treatment of the christians? Where do we find them? To whom are they addressed? What gave occasion to them? Do they contemplate any previous law on the subject? What was the nature of that law; and who was the author of it? What distinguished martyr suffered under Trajan? What martyrs of note under Adrian? Who was Aurelius? Who under Valerian? What famous British martyr under Diocletian?

3. Who is said to have turned the attention of Gregory, Bishop of Rome, to the conversion of England? Whom did he send to England to effect it? At what date? What proof is there that a considerable church was already established in that island? To whom confined? What was the title of the bishop who was its head? What terms of coalition did Gregory's emissary propose to that church? What appears to have been the real cause of the failure of the proposal? From whom then does the English church, as distinguished from the British, date?

4. Who was the last archbishop in the succession of this church before Cranmer? Who were the bishops that consecrated Cranmer? Under what protest on his part? What motives probably induced Pope Clement to confirm his election? What ancient council, by its decrees, shows that such confirmation was unnecessary? What was the date of that council? What is the technical term by which the right of independence of churches, as declared in that council, is designated? 5. What convulsion in the Church had caused the difficulty, whatever there was, in the consecration of Archbishop Parker? How long after his consecration was the Nag's Head Fable originated? Where was he in fact consecrated? By whom?

THE LITURGY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

1. When was the catechism introduced into our Prayer Book? By whom was it drawn up? What previous publications may have suggested the plan of it? What is the original meaning of the word catechism? By way of illustration translate into the Greek, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."

2. When should the child, according to the rubrick, be examined openly in the catechism? How does the canon differ from the rubrick? How would you practically carry out both? On occasions when the catechism is not actually taught openly, what, may we infer, should be the character of the afternoon sermons, to be in accordance with the spirit of the rubrick? At what period in the history of our church, did catechising in the afternoon cease? What interrupted it?

3. By what texts in Scripture do you defend infant baptism? Cyprian takes infant baptism for granted: what was the question put to him which accidentally discovers this fact? What is the name for godfathers and godmothers in the primitive church?

4. What expressions connected with baptism in Scripture, intimate that promises and vows were required at it from the first? In the answer to the question, "What did your godfathers and godmothers then promise for you," some phrases are used which we know to be the very same as those used in the primitive church on the like occasion; what are those phrases? In general, what may have guided our church in the use of language in her formularies, not always the most popular or colloquial? What danger would there be in meddling with such language?

5. In what primitive writers do we find the substance of the Apostle's creed, before we find the creed itself? In what writers do we first find the creed itself, with a few omissions? What is the date of these writers, and how would you infer from them that the Church had then been long time in possession of it?

6. Do you consider the Lord's prayer to have been given by our Lord once only, or twice? What are the grounds of your conclusion? In the exposition of the Lord's Prayer in the catechism, what is supposed to be comprehended under the word "bread?" How does the use of the Lord's Prayer in the communion service, both ancient and modern, point to such sense of it? How would the same exposition seem to understand the clause, "deliver us from evil?" What is the Greek? There is another formulary in which the Church indicates the comprehensive character of the Lord's prayer, and the development of which it is capable? Where is that?

REPORT ON THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATES UNDER THE MINUTES OF 1846.