THE

EDUCATIONAL RECORD.
.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

TRAINING DEPARTMENT.

Examination for Admission, Christmas, 1865.

THE examination for admission to the Training Colleges of the Society, both at the Borough Road and at Stockwell, is appointed to commence on the morning of Tuesday, December 19th. In making this announcement we take occasion to supply such information as may be useful to those who may desire, or may have resolved to present themselves as candidates.

I. Young persons eligible. In addition to those pupil teachers who have completed their term of apprenticeship, the examination is open (subject to the required testimonials) to those not having been pupil teachers who are eighteen years of age. If successful, and received into the college, they are placed in the same position as those who have served their apprenticeship.

II. Period of training.—Two years is now absolutely required in every case. A declaration has to be signed by each candidate that, if admitted, he or she will be prepared to remain for two years, and that it is his or her bona fide intention to adopt and follow the profession of a teacher in elementary day schools for the children of the working classes.

III. Terms and conditions of admission.-The sum of £3 is to be paid upon admission. This payment includes the whole expense to the student for two years (holidays excepted) for board, lodging, instruction, laundry, and medical attendance. The cost of the required books and stationery devolves upon the student. Sound health is so indispensable that every possible precaution will be

taken to ascertain that the candidate is free from any predisposition to disease.

IV. Mode of application.-Where it is known that the time of a pupil teacher expires at Christmas, a circular is sent to inquire whether he or she intends to sit for examination, and to become a candidate for admission. In all other cases the candidate should write a letter addressed to "The Secretary," British and Foreign School Society, Borough Road, S.E., stating his or her wishes, age, and previous employment, and requesting a "form of application." This states the nature of the testimonial required as to moral and religious character, and contains the queries to be answered by the applicant. No guarantee of admission is given until the result of the examination has transpired.

For the past two years so much doubt and uncertainty have existed respecting the operation of the Revised Code, and its influence on the position and prospects of teachers, that many pupil teachers who really wished to follow the profession have been deterred from entering a training college. A sufficient time has now passed to enable us to form a pretty correct estimate on the case, and we have no hesitation in saying that the gloomy anticipations and predictions in which some teachers indulged on the pecuniary aspects of the questions have not been realized.

The idea prevailed that pupil teachers could find employment in "rural schools" as "provisionally certificated" teachers. This expectation has not been realized to any extent, it being found that the cost to a committee of an ex-pupil teacher was really little, if any, less than that for which the services of a trained and more experienced teacher could be procured. Time and circumstances combine to show that any one intending to follow the profession of teaching in public elementary schools for the working classes, can do so in no way so economically, both of time and money, as by passing through a training college.

AGENCY DEPARTMENT.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN DISTRICT.-Mr. Baxter has been engaged during the past quarter in addressing two or three meetings and conducting examinations of schools. Although his time is now but partially devoted to the service of the Society, by personal interviews with parties seeking advice on school matters, and by correspondence, he

still renders essential aid to the cause of education on the principles of the Society.

EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS.-During the past three months Mr. Milne has inspected 64 schools in 52 different towns and villages. He has also held various conferences with committees of schools, and has addressed public meetings, and assisted in conducting public examinations in Wandsworth, High Easter, Loughton, Bishop-Stortford, Andover, Cottenham, and Dalston.

HIGH EASTER.-The annual examination of this school was held on the 12th July. The day being observed as the anniversary of the adjoining chapel, the whole village appeared in holiday attire, with flags and evergreens in profusion. The children were examined in reading, spelling, mental arithmetic, geography, and the Sacred Scriptures, and their correct and ready answers showed that their teacher had carefully instructed them. There was a large attendance of their parents and friends, who appeared delighted with the progress which the children have made. The school has long been munificently supported by Manning Prentice, Esq., of Stowmarket, and has proved a great blessing to the village.

ANDOVER.-A very interesting and successful public examination of the Andover British Schools was held in the Town Hall on the evening of the 20th of July. The mayor had promised to take the chair, but being prevented by illness from attending, his predecessor in office kindly took his place, and presided over the meeting. The large room was filled with a highly respectable assemblage of the townspeople, who manifested great interest in the proceedings of the evening. The examination comprised reading, spelling, arithmetic, grammar, history, geography, and the Scriptures, in all of which the children acquitted themselves most creditably. The rapidity and correctness with which they performed arithmetical calculations, both mentally and on their slates, elicited loud applause. But, indeed, in every subject in which they were examined, the readiness and correctness of their answers showed how carefully they had been instructed. The schools are now in a very healthy and satisfactory state. Within the past two years the attendance has risen from 120 to 250, the new schoolrooms have been paid for, and everything is in excellent working order. The only thing, indeed, to be feared and guarded against is, lest the excellence of the education should attract so many children of the middle class as to push out those for whom a British school is primarily intended. At the close of the proceedings several of the speakers adverted to this aspect of the school, and urged the establishment of a ragged school as the best way of meeting the difficulty.

BISHOP-STORTFORD.-A public examination of the boys' school was held on the evening of the 27th July, the Rev. W. Cuthbertson, B.A., in the chair. The only thing to be regretted was the smallness of the attendance, ―those who were present being both surprised and delighted. One of the committee frankly said at the close of the proceedings, "I had no idea that

the boys were learning so much and so well. I have never visited the school hitherto, but I shall certainly do so in future." The boys were examined in all the subjects usually taught in a British school, and the way in which they acquitted themselves showed how much pains had been bestowed on their instruction. Specimens of drawing and penmanship were handed round the room, and were deservedly admired. The way also in which they performed difficult arithmetical calculations on their slates greatly delighted the audience.

COTTENHAM, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. A new British schoolroom, capable of accommodating two hundred children, has recently been erected in this large and populous village, and was opened with great éclat in the beginning of July, with a certificated master from the Borough Road Training College. The first morning that the school was open, 140 children presented themselves for admission, and before the end of the second week the number on the books had increased to 170. As the attendance will doubtless increase after the harvest is over, the managers see already that they will have to build a room for the infants. The agent of the British and Foreign School Society visited the school on the 25th July, and was much gratified with the progress which the master had made in so short a time. In the evening he addressed a public meeting, which was well attended. So encouraging a commencement promises well for the future of the school, which has long been urgently needed.

LOUGHTON.-A public meeting in connection with the Loughton British School was held in the large room underneath the Baptist chapel, on the evening of the 22nd August. A large company sat down to tea, after which the Rev. S. Brawn took the chair. Mr. Milne attended as a deputation from the British and Foreign School Society, and, with other gentlemen, addressed the meeting. The school has recently been placed under Government inspection, with a new master, who gives promise of raising it to a better position than it has held for some time. The great difficulty is the irregular attendance, arising from the demand for the services of children to wait on the visitors to Loughton in the summer months; and one object of the meeting was to show their parents how much a few years' steady attendance at school would benefit them in future life.

NORTHERN DISTRICT.-During the past quarter Mr. Davis has been engaged in the counties of Lancaster, Chester, Salop, Hereford, Worcester, Stafford, York, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Northumberland. He has paid thirty-two visits to twenty-nine towns and villages, and inspected thirty-two schools. He has also met several school committees, and other promoters of education, for the purpose of discussing with them various questions connected with the interests of their respective schools. One committee, for instance, sought and obtained his advice as to the best mode of paying their teacher under the Revised Code. The supporters of another and important school wished Mr. Davis to go carefully through the

whole school, and ascertain whether the expenditure was or was not unusually large. The result of this investigation was, that the expenditure was found to be nearly £3 per head on the average attendance. Suggestions were at once made and adopted for reducing the expenditure without impairing the efficiency of the school. Other committees have also sought and received explanations and advice in reference to Government aid under the Revised Code; and in various other ways, which it would be impossible to describe in detail, has the Society's agent been employed in aiding local efforts, and in promoting the general interests of the Society.

SOUTH WALES.-During the past quarter Mr. Williams has paid eighty-three visits to seventy-five towns and villages in the counties of Caermarthen, Cardigan, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Pembroke. He has visited fifty-eight schools, conducted twenty-two public examinations, addressed twenty public meetings, and held seventeen conferences with school committees and promoters of new schools. New schools have been opened at Narberth and Groesgoch; and those at Soar, Velindre, and Brynseion have just been placed under the inspection of the committee of council. Indications of progress are visible on every hand, and the prospects of liberal education in South Wales are continually becoming brighter and more encouraging.

BLAENCONIN.—A public examination of this long-established and efficient school took place on Friday, June 10th, in the adjoining chapel, in the presence of a large and enthusiastic audience. Mr. Williams conducted the examination in reading, writing from dictation, arithmetic, English history, English grammar, and the Scriptures, Mr. James of Henllan on geography, and Mr. Williams, the master, on the use of the globes. The ready and intelligent manner in which the children went through a searching examination gave universal satisfaction. In the afternoon the children were treated to tea and cake, which they evidently enjoyed. In the evening Mr. Williams, who had attended to conduct the examination, addressed a crowded congregation of attentive persons on schools. Too much cannot be said in praise of Mr. Stephen Williams, who has conducted this excellent school for about twenty years with rare ability and success. He has left his impress on the neighbourhood.

GOGINAN.-The first public examination of this new and successful school took place on the 26th of June, in the schoolroom, in the presence of a large audience. One hundred and eighty-three children attended, and the spectators were much struck with their cleanliness and orderly behaviour. They were submitted to a rigid examination in reading, spelling, arithmetic, and a few general questions. Taking into consideration that the school had only been opened since the month of January, the progress made was all that could have been desired. The parents seemed delighted to hear their