'Mr. Lowe's proposal to inspect the public schools had no official origin that I am aware of; but, certainly, I read with surprise Mr. Acland's statement that "it would be nothing less than an insult to any respectable middle class school to send such persons," as some of Her Majesty's inspectors, " to examine the scholars." Mr. Acland speaks of the inspector, "with all respect for some of them, as men not in the slightest degree fitted to discharge the duty." Yet three of them, at the special solicitation of the Commission, of which Mr. Acland was a member, were detached from their duties under the Committee of Council to act as AssistantCommissioners for the inspection of middle-class schools. If the Commissioners were dissatisfied with them, I never heard of it. Their reports are published. I know that they have many colleagues quite as able as themselves, but I do not know among those colleagues of one to whom Mr. Acland's words can be justly applied. 'I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, 'Council-office, July 9.' 'R. R. W. LINGEN.

London Association of Church Schoolmasters.

At a meeting held in the Library of St. Mark's College, Chelsea, on the evening of May 26th, 1868, Rev. J. G. Cromwell in the chair, the following resolutions were carried unanimously :

1. That in the opinion of this meeting it is expedient that an association of Church Teachers be established in London.

2. That this Association be called the London Association of Church
Schoolmasters.

3. That the object of this Association be to bring Church Schoolmasters
into closer union for the purpose of enabling them to give expression to
their opinions on any public question affecting National Education.
4. That to attain this object periodical meetings be held for the discussion
of the Education questions of the day.

'5. That the terms of subscription do not exceed 2s. 6d. per annum. '6. That a provisional committee be appointed to draw up a body of rules for the Association, consisting of the following Teachers.-Mr. J. Barton, S. Pancras School, Lancing Street, N. W.; Mr. J. Cawood, S. Stephen's School, Westminster, S.W.; Mr. D. G. Crisp, Christ Church Schools, Marylebone, N.W.; Mr. T. Day, Abbey Street School, Bethnal Green, N.E.; Mr. T. Heller, S. Margaret's School, Lambeth, S.; Mr. W. Kimpton, S. Mary's, Bryanston Square, W.; Mr. W. Lawson, S. Mark's College, Chelsea, S.W.; Mr. G. W. Perry, 49, Cambridge Street, Pimlico, S.W.; Mr. T. Smith, Hampden-Gurney School, Marylebone, W.’ The following statement has been put forward by the promoters of the Association :

'Education has become one of the great questions of the day, and there is a growing feeling in the public mind that the opinions of practical men should influence any changes that are to take place. Teachers hitherto have had no voice in the discussion of educational subjects; but their opinions are now begining to win respect. These opinions-to have any weight-must express the convictions of large numbers: hence the necessity for Teachers uniting together. Several Education Associations already exist in different parts of England; but there is, at the present time, no Association of Church Schoolmasters in the metropolis. The necessity for such a combination of Teachers is, however, admitted on all hands.

The character of the Association we propose to establish, and the object we wish to keep in view, may be seen by the accompanying resolutions. We hope to provide a machinery by means of which Teachers will be enabled to send petitions up to Parliament; to appoint deputations to wait upon Statesmen; to send representatives to Educational Congresses; and to select witnesses to express their opinions before Education Commissions. We trust that by these means Teachers will at length have a voice in regulating matters which so nearly concern them, and will no longer be entirely subject to the caprice of a Minister, or left altogether to the mercy of a department.'

Register of the Month.

Scholastic Registration Association.

A special general meeting of the Association was held in London, on Wednesday, July 8. Mr. Payne, Vice-President, having taken the chair, the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Barrow Rule, of Aldershot, made a very careful and elaborate comparison between the proposals of the Association and the recommendations of the Schools' Inquiry Commissioners, showing that while there are differences in points of detail, there is general concurrence in the means proposed for discouraging incompetent persons from assuming the office of schoolmaster, and for enabling the public to distinguish qualified from unqualified educators.

The Secretary further stated that the Association had memorialized the Universities of Great Britain and Ireland to institute special and professional examinations for schoolmasters, especially in the 'Theory and Practice of Education,' and to grant to the successful candidates the title of 'Licentiate in Education.' Letters were read from of the Universities, by which it appears that the Senate of the University of Oxford has referred the memorial to the local delegacy, by whom a committee has been appointed to consider it; that the Council of the University of Cambridge has agreed to offer a grace for the appointment of a syndicate in the Michaelmas term to consider the subject; that the University of Edinburgh has also appointed a committee to consider, and report on, the request of the memorialists; that the University of London does not consider it expedient to take any action at present; and that the senate of the University of Durham, while recognizing the great importance of the work in which the Association is engaged, and the benefits which are likely to result from it to the country at large, regret that the small number of the staff engaged renders it impossible for them at present to institute examinations of the kind desired.

Mr. Beach, M.P., then asked whether the Association intended to take any immediate parliamentary action, and, on the reply of the Secretary that the Committee would very shortly consider the question, suggested the desirableness of memorializing the Government to introduce a bill. The suggestion being in entire accordance with the views of the meeting, Dr. Hodgson moved, and Mr. Bewley seconded, the following motion, which was carried unanimously:-'That a memorial be presented to the Privy Council by the Scholastic Registration Association, urging her Majesty's Government to introduce a bill in accordance with the

recommendations they have made on the subject of the Schools Inquiry Commission.'

The Secretary then observed that in March a deputation, introduced by Mr. Beach, M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon. Lord Robert Montagu, on the subject of Scholastic Registration, and that his lordship, convinced of the importance of the objects desired by the Association, promised to lay them before the Government.

The following motions were then carried :

Moved by Mr. Waymouth, seconded by Mr. Bewley-‘That a clause, in accordance with the recommendation of her Majesty's Commissioners, be added to the Scholastic Registration Bill, authorizing the proposed Scholastic Council to inspect the schools of registered persons when requested to do so by the principals or managers thereof.'

Moved by Mr. Southee, seconded by Mr. Hooper-'That a clause, in accordance with the recommendation of her Majesty's Commissioners, be added to the said bill, making unregistered persons ineligible for public scholastic appointments.'

Moved by Dr. Hodgson, seconded by Mr. Rule-'That any principal of a school at the time of the passing of the Act, not possessing any of the qualifications stated in clause 3, be registered on condition that his or her school has been inspected and examined in the subjects professed to be taught, by, and to the satisfaction of, the General Scholastic Council; and that any other person engaged in teaching at the time of the passing of this Act, and being of age, may, on the production of such evidence of fitness as may be satisfactory to the Scholastic Council, be registered; and that no such person be struck off the register, except for offences specified in clause 11, or in case of death.'

Moved by the Rev. Dr. Jones, and seconded by Mr. Hooper-"That the General Council consist of:

1. Six persons of practical experience in education, nominated by her Majesty, with the advice of the Privy Council, for England, Scotland, and Ireland.

2. One representative of each of the following Universities:-Oxford, Cambridge, London, Durham, Edinburgh and St. Andrews collectively, Aberdeen and Glasgow collectively, Dublin, and the Queen's University, Ireland.

3. One representative of each of the following chartered bodies, empowered to grant diplomas or certificates to persons engaged or desirous to be engaged in the scholastic profession-the College of Preceptors, and the Educational Institute of Scotland.

4. Seven representatives of registered persons chosen by them from their own body, viz., three for England, two for Scotland, and two for Ireland. Moved by Mr. Oppler, seconded by Mr. Waymouth-That a clause be added to the said bill, providing that the Registrar enter in alphabetical order the name, place of residence, qualification, and date of qualification of all persons entitled to be registered, and that, from time to time, on being requested to do so, he register any other similar qualifications which they shall subsequently acquire.'

Moved by Mr. Rule, seconded by Mr. Southee-'That while it is proposed that the certificates issued by the bodies named in clause 3 entitle their holders to be registered, it is hoped that hereafter a tested knowledge of the Theory and Practice of Education' will be made an indispensable condition of certification.'

A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and to the Hon. Secretary, closed the proceedings.

The July meeting of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Schoolmasters' Association was held in Trinity School Room, Nottingham, on Saturday, the 4th inst. There was present hardly an average number of members.

After the President, Mr. Whitwell, of St. Paul's School, had opened the proceedings as usual with prayer, Mendelssohn's part song, 'Farewell to the Forest,' was practised with fair amount of success.

The President then called upon the Secretary, Mr. Hemming, to read an article from the June number of 'The Papers for the Schoolmaster,' entitled "Teachers versus the Monthly Paper.'

This article severely censured the circular of the National Society for the hostile tone it had for some reason adopted towards teachers, and urged upon teachers generally the duty of no longer supporting a paper so inimical to their interests. The members present expressed their entire concurrence with the views of the writer, and upon the motion of Mr. Hemming, seconded by Mr. Gaskell, the following resolution bearing upon the question was unanimously carried:-'That this meeting pledges itself no longer to support the National Society's Monthly Paper, on the ground that its tone is generally hostile to the interests of teachers; and further, to do all in its power to promote the circulation of the 'Papers for the Schoolmaster,' a serial which, more than any other, devotes its columns to the advocacy of the claims of the teaching profession."

The next business was the discussion of the topic, introduced by Mr. Hunter, St. Nicholas' Schools:-" Is the Church Schoolmasters' and Schoolmistresses' Benevolent Institution, as now carried on, worthy of the support of teachers ?" In his remarks, which were ably written, he rebutted many of the charges brought against the Society, and showed that they applied more to the Institution in its infancy than to the Society as now conducted. He explained how it was worked, what objects it had in view, how successful it had been though with limited means, what necessity there was for its existence, and urged upon the meeting to do something towards furthering its laudable designs. He concluded by stating, for various reasons assigned, that, in his opinion, at least, the "Benevolent Institution" was worthy of the cordial support of teachers. Several speakers followed, and, for the most part, concurred in the views advocated by Mr. Hunter, but, in order that more time might be afforded for the consideration of the subject, it was moved and carried "that the discussion be adjourned till the next meeting in August." Several formal votes of thanks were passed, and the meeting broke up.

Scientific Instruction of the Industrial Classes.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the provision for giving instruction in theoretical and applied science to the industrial classes, have considered the matters referred to them, and have agreed to their report, which has been published for the information of parliament.

After suggesting the importance of efficient Elementary Instruction being placed within the reach of every child, and of such a re-organisation of secondary instruction as would provide for a larger amount of Scientific Instruction, the committee arrive at the following amongst other conclusions:- That certain endowed schools should be selected in favourable situations for the purpose of being reconstituted as science schools, having in view the special requirements of the district, such schools being available to the surrounding districts by the establishment of exhibitions open to public competition; that superior colleges and schools for special Scientific Instruction would require extraneous aid for their support in addition to

fees, and that such institutions should be established in centres of industry, which would tend to promote the combination of science with practice on the part both of professors and pupils, and make them available for a larger number of persons. The committee are also of opinion that the provinces, and especially the agricultural districts, are entitled to increased aid from the state; that some slight addition to the emoluments of science teachers would probably tend most materially to promote the establishment and permanence of elementary science classes; and that the provisions of the Public Libraries and Museums Act should be altered so as to enable public bodies to levy a slightly increased rate for scientific purposes. The committee furthur suggest that teachers in elementary schools should be paid on results for teaching science to the older scholars, and that the education of higher science teachers should be encouraged by the granting of degrees in science at Oxford and Cambridge, as at other universities, and by the opening of a great number of fellowships to distinction in natural science as well as in literature and mathematical and moral science.'

The committee consisted of nineteen members of the House of Commons and the witnesses examined by them included the President of Queen's College, Cork, schoolmasters, engineers, science teachers, an architect, a gunmaker, and manufacturers. The total expenses allowed to the witnesses amounted to 1627. 13s. 6d.

National School Books (Ireland.)

A return issued recently shows that the costs of the last revision of school books published by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland was £3244 17s. 9d.

Public Education.

The estimated amount required for the year ending March 31, 1869, for public education in Great Britain is £781,324, being an increase of £75,459 over the previous year.

EXTRACTS.

The following sketch of a Plan for providing Retiring Superannuations for Elementary Teachers in old age, has appeared in the pages of a contemporary.

The sum granted for elementary education is somewhere between £700,000 and £800,000 per annum, the grants varying from a few pounds in the case of small schools to large sums to the large schools. After deductions for administration, there may be about £600,000 paid in grants to managers of elementary schools. If only a small per-centage were deducted from the grant, it would supply a fund amply sufficient to afford moderate superannuations to teachers in old age. One per cent. only on £600,000 would give £6,000,—a sum more than sufficient to meet all the requirements of the first year; and if the claims became more numerous, an additional half or one per cent. would be sufficient to meet them. If the deduction amounted to even five per cent. it would not be excessive. The sum being deducted at the Central office in London, would not be felt as a contribution by the school managers, and in no case could it be considered a hardship. A small school receiving its £20 grant less one per cent, would receive only 4s. less; and a