of the boys and girls, and a number of musical compositions were sung by the children, including "God bless the Prince of Wales," and the old Cornish ballad, “And shall Trelawny die?" At the conclusion of the examination the Rev. Mr. Lewis, Baptist minister, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Baxter, seconded by Mr. S. James, and carried unanimously. Mr. Baxter, in thanking the company for the compliment, urged upon parents the duty which they owe to their children, and especially in obtaining for them a sound moral training and education. He also expressed his gratification at the result of the examination.

EASTERN DISTRICT.-During the past three months Mr. Milne has inspected sixty-three schools in fifty-five different towns and villages. He reports that in all the schools under Government inspection he finds the teachers paying increased attention to the younger children, and to the elementary subjects of instruction in all the classes. The contrast, in this respect, between the inspected and the uninspected schools is very striking. WOODHURST (near HUNTINGDON).—The public examination of this school took place on the 28th of October; John Longland Ekins, Esq., in the chair. The district is entirely agricultural, and consequently the attendance of the children is irregular, and their stay at school very short. But the ability and devotedness of Miss Allen triumphs over all these obstacles, and the annual examination of her school furnishes a rich treat to all who witness it. The reading was especially good, being clear, distinct, and expressive, and marked by good taste and feeling. Among other subjects with which the children displayed a good acquaintance, their knowledge of the Scriptures was found to be large and accurate. Mr. Ekins remarked, at the close of the examination, that though he bears nearly the entire burden of the school, he pays no money with so much pleasure as he does Miss Allen's salary. Such a teacher in every village would revolutionize the character of the agricultural population of England.

ROCHFORD. The parents of the children attending this school, which has been recently placed under Government inspection, were invited to tea in the Independent Chapel, on the 11th of November, to hear Mr. Milne's report on its present state, and a few words of advice in reference to their own duties and responsibilities. Prevailing sickness has kept the attendance low, but the children have made good progress, and the future appears full of encouragement. The evening was spent very pleasantly, and it is to be hoped profitably. If the parents will only give the teacher a fair chance, by sending their children regularly to school, there is no doubt of the teacher's

success.

BALDOCK.—The annual examination of this school took place on the 4th of December. At five o'clock in the afternoon a large and respectable company of friends and supporters of the school sat down to tea in the Wesleyan Sunday Schoolroom, after which the assembly retired to the adjoining chapel, which was well filled with the parents of the boys, and others anxious to witness the proceedings. The examination was of a searching character, and gave unqualified satisfaction. The reading and recitations were especially

admired, and, indeed, in every subject the boys showed how carefully they had been instructed by their excellent master. The school is in a very flourishing condition, and all connected with it are hopeful that the future will be even more prosperous than the past.

NORTHERN DISTRICT.-During the past quarter Mr. Davis has been engaged, in a variety of ways, in advancing local education and the general interests of the Society. His engagements have taken him into the counties of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Northumberland, Chester, Derby, Leicester, and Stafford. In addition to the various schools and objects to which he has given his attention in Manchester, he has paid forty-three visits to forty-two towns and villages in these different counties, inspected forty-four schools, and conducted one public examination.

SOUTH WALES.-Mr. David Williams, in addition to the inspection of schools in his district, has devoted a month to the holding of public meetings in the county of Cardigan, with a view to arouse and direct attention to the subject of popular education. He has held nearly forty such meetings, the majority of which were numerously attended, and apparently much interested in the object. Sympathy was manifestly felt and frequently expressed, while in many cases a determination to act has been formed. It is proposed to follow up this movement vigorously, and, it is hoped and believed, successfully.

FINANCIAL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF BRITISH

SCHOOLS.

THIS subject has a bearing on the more effective support of existing schools, and their extension to localities hitherto unsupplied with the means of popular education on the scriptural and comprehensive basis of the Society. In the former case it has been the common practice to depend upon a limited number of subscribers; in the latter, the want, or supposed want, of persons of comparative wealth, prepared to sympathize with and aid the object, has often deterred from action where the importance of such a school in a given locality has been felt and its absence deplored.

Our main suggestion is that the basis of pecuniary support be widened; in other words, that, instead of confining the contribution to the few, the aid of the many be solicited. The scale of subscriptions from the more wealthy need not be lowered, while smaller sums obtained from the general public might be so numerous as to constitute in the aggregate a very considerable

amount.

The possibility of the adopting of this plan may be illustrated by a case now before us. From the annual report of British schools for boys and girls in a town in Lincolnshire, it appears that there are no fewer than three hundred and four annual subscribers. Of these, two hundred and fifty-eight contribute to the amount of 5s. and under annually. A further analysis shows that the contributors of 5s. are only thirty-one, while the contributions of two hundred and twenty-seven persons consist of sums below 5s. each.

The total amount of annual subscriptions for the support of these schools is thus raised to £76 per annum, and the number of children under daily instruction is over five hundred.

The advantages of the plan are manifold. (1.) Not only is the pecuniary aid increased, but a wider and deeper interest is awakened and maintained in the object. The progress and prosperity of the school become matters of inquiry, where otherwise its existence would not amount to more than a recognized fact, or its teaching might be altogether ignored. (2.) The money difficulty and deficiency occasioned by the death or removal of old subscribers would be more easily met. This is a difficulty consequent upon the restriction of the area of contributors, and therefore the extension of that area is the natural and appropriate remedy. (3.) Such a plan is in especial harmony with the broad and unsectarian character of the British School. No better illustration of the comprehensive nature of its principles could be desired, while at the same time this method would be a means of extending information on those principles.

The objection which might at first sight be urged would probably be the difficulty of collecting periodically sums so small in amount. To this objection it may be legitimately replied, There are, it is believed, in most towns where a school has existed for any time, some intelligent young men, who, having themselves derived the advantages of instruction in the school, would be willing to render service in this form towards its more efficient support. Such cases have occurred within our personal knowledge, and the proposed extension of the area of contributors would in the very working of it awaken the interest and induce the co-operation of this class.

The disturbing character of the Revised Code in its pecuniary aspects has led to the adoption of various expedients to obviate the deficiency it is understood to effect. Among these may be mentioned a higher weekly fee, to be paid by a select class; an additional guinea or half-guinea per annum from those already subscribing; the reduction of expenditure in directions felt to be needful, though undesirable. To each and all of these methods of meeting a difficulty, strong objections might be adduced. Not so to the plan under consideration. It is as simple as it would prove efficient; it is capable of universal adoption, and is in principle and practice adapted alike to the village and the town, to places where schools are already established, and where their establishment is needed or contemplated.

THE TRAINING OF FEMALE TEACHERS IN DOMESTIC

DUTIES.

THERE exists a prevalent but erroneous impression that in normal schools this branch of instruction is overlooked. The mistake probably arises from the fact that the range of subjects taught is thought to be so wide, or so purely intellectual or technical, that more practical and common subjects are displaced. Such is not the case. DOMESTIC ECONOMY, the common term applied to this class of instruction forms a distinct subject, and is treated as such both in the arrangement of the Training College and in the examination for certificates of merit. For the information of such of our readers

as may be interested in this branch, and in illustration of the character of the teaching, we subjoin the actual questions which, at the recent examination, formed what is termed the " Domestic Economy paper."

SECTION I.

1. Compare the advantages of linen, cotton, and woollen clothing, with regard to durability, health, and economy.

2. To what extent should cutting out be taught in a well-ordered school? What expedients would you adopt in order to give the children practical instruction in this art?

3. What ought to be the yearly cost of clothing for a girl between fourteen and fifteen years of age, the daughter (1) of a mechanic, or (2) of a day labourer? Support your opinion by a detailed estimate.

SECTION II.

1. Prepare a table of diet for school children between ten and thirteen years of age. Explain the advantages of the various substances which you would use, having regard to economy, and the health and strength of the children.

2. Explain the reasons why meat, intended for the table, should be boiled slowly. Under what circumstances may rapid boiling be allowable? 3. How may the following articles of food be prepared, so as to be both economical and palatable ?— Oatmeal, rice, sheep's head, and fish.

SECTION III.

1. Give directions for washing woollen articles, and for getting up fine linen; and, as far as you are able, give intelligible reasons for the process which you recommend.

2. Mention some faults commonly committed by laundry women, the causes to which they are attributable, and the effects they produce upon the appearance and quality of clothing.

SECTION IV.

Prepare full notes for lessons on two subjects selected from the following list:

:

Duties of a nurse-maid, or
Kitchen-maid;

Causes that predispose to typhus fever, or other prevalent diseases; Symptoms of scarlet fever, or of croup, and simple methods of dealing with them until medical assistance can be obtained.

The different modes in which small savings may be turned to good

account.

INFANTS.

The following questions have special reference to INFANT SCHOOLS. Candidates who answer the questions in this section satisfactorily, and who afterwards pass a satisfactory probation in keeping Infant Schools, will have a special stamp added to their certificates when issued.

1. What means have been devised to teach infants the means and movements of common domestic processes, such as washing, baking, ironing, &c.?

2. Write the notes of such a lesson as would be intelligible and interesting to infants on catching cold; what it means, and how to avoid it.

It must be obvious that to pass this examination, a very considerable amount of knowledge must be possessed both theoretically and practically. A portion of the questions have to be answered on the spot, in writing, without any reference, and that correctly and precisely. This is a branch of instruction which receives full attention at the Training School of the Society at Stockwell.

SCHOOL STATISTICS.-REVISED CODE. .

THE following statistics have been kindly furnished in illustration of the results of the examinations of schools under the new Code. For obvious reasons, names are withheld. The localities are widely separated, and the figures may be taken as a specimen of the general results in the districts represented. In Lancashire some of the larger schools present a very favourable return, both in a money and educational aspect. Thus in one school we find the following:-Present on the day of Inspector's visit, 190; eligible for examination, 122; of these, 110 were present; 4 only failed in reading, and 6 in arithmetic. In another school there were present on the day of Inspector's visit, 418; eligible for examination, 318; number passed, 312, or 981 per cent. Again,-number eligible for examination, 204; actually present, 186; passed, 173, or 93 per cent. The following unfavourable return was, we understand, to be attributed to a want of judgment on the part of the teacher:-Eligible for examination, 103; actually present, 89; failed in reading, 12; in writing, 19; in arithmetic, 40.

One school in Northumberland, the particulars of which have been received, stands thus :-Boys, average attendance, 131; presented for examination, 98 ; failures in reading, 1; in arithmetic, 1; deducted on account of the position of the parents, 4. In the girls' school, average attendance, 121; presented for examination, 115; deducted on account of parents' position, 15; sum received for both departments, £140 13s. 4d. The disparity between the average attendance and the number presented in the boys' school is reported to have arisen from the fact that the inspection took place soon after the harvest holidays.

From Devonshire we learn that, in a school situated in a large town of that county, there were, boys eligible for examination, 182; present at the inspector's visit, 143; of these, 5 failed in reading, 1 in writing, and 6 in arithmetic, being rather over 97 per cent. that passed. In the girls' department, out of 88 presented, 5 failed in writing, and 21 in arithmetic, being 90 per cent. passed. Infants' department, presented for examination, 19; failed in reading, 3; in arithmetic, 8; under six years of age, attending 200 times, 98. Total grant, £172 2s. 5d.

The following, from South Wales, relate to schools in the rural districts with two exceptions :-Average attendance, 89; presented for examination, 81; failed in reading, 6; in writing, 10; in arithmetic, 18; infants under six years of age claiming the grant, 8; amount received, £48 5s. 4d., or 10s. 10d. per child on the average attendance. In another rural school, average attendance, 96; presented for examination, 94; failed in reading, 4; in writing, 7; in arithmetic, 9; amount received, £54 8s., or 11s. 4d. per child in average attendance. A town infant school is thus reported on:Average attendance, 131; presented for examination, 42; failed in reading, 6; in writing, 2; in arithmetic, 6; number under six years of age for whom the grant was claimed, 38; amount received, £53 8s. 9d., being about 8s. 2d. per child on the average attendance. In a mixed school in the "Ironworks district," the results stand thus:-Average attendance, 226; presented for examination, 169; failed in reading, 37; in writing, 59; in arithmetic, 27; infants under six years of age claiming payment, 47; total amount received, £111 13s. 6d. The next is from a town partly manufacturing,—average attendance, 162; presented for examination, 120; failed in reading, 6; in writing, 10; in arithmetic, 24; 3 were deducted, not fulfilling terms of Article 4. Infants, 18 claiming the grant; total amount received, £80 5s. 4d. From a good school in Oxfordshire we learn that of boys the average attendance was 145; presented for examination, 129; failed in reading, 12; in writing, 3; in arithmetic, 1; deducted on account of the position of the parents, 9; infants claiming payment, 9. In the girls' school the average attendance was 131; presented for examination, 127; failed in reading, 9;