The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-26 00:00:00

Altiti\AY, NOVINI3kR I, 1810.

.
A resolution to the effect that the Ratepayers' Corn.
mitts° be requested to forward n ,opy of the foregoing
resolutione to the Poor-law Board, with the necessary in.
formation in reference to the rateable value of the
different pari.lies id the Union, and begging the (steer
of the early attention of the Board, was adopted.
A vote of thank. 1•14 also accorded to the Chaim.),
the ov,seers, and etherslwholdiadjoined in the rui,v,••
meet.
The meeting then separated.

he Bays, that Is likely to arrest the progress of these twin
evils. Then, let him try to edueate the children of the
! pauper and criminal classes.
• I believe there in not any tabulated information to be
ft 41.1 no to the state of pauper education : that It is vez7
low may be taken for granted. We have, however, Mr
' tisties of education in the criminal class. In last year's
official report it appears that of the persons convicted
33.4 per cent, males, and 99.5 per cent, females could
neither read nor write; and 62.9 per cent. males, and
58.2 per cent, females could read, or read and write la.
perfectly. As this latter degree of attainment is tint •
small way removed from ignorance, we may say that 99.7
out of every 100 males, and 97.7 out of every 100 leinalen
were literally uneducated ; while but 9.5 per cent finales,
and 1.6 per cent females could read and write well u
is very clear, therefore, that if ignorance is not the calm .
of crime, crime is certainly closely connected with ignor-
ance. The proportion of those described ea having re.
ceired • superior education is only 0.2 per cent males, and
0.02 per cent. females. This in so infinitesimal • pro-
portion that we may affirm that education so decidedly
unfavourable to crime. And if we remember that drew-
kennel% and improvidence, fruitful sources of crime Ind
pauperism, find a congenial soil in ignorance, we cannot
but feel that even on grounds of economy the ratepayer,
ought to do his best to extend as far as powaible Via
blessings of education.
Hitherto, no adequate attempt haa been made to apply
this remedy. While we spend £11,000,000 a year to
in, stain our paupers and to punish crime, Parliament,
Is ••. year, voted—how much, think you I—for the promo-
ti•ai of Elementary Education in England and Wales,
t 696 750 5s 94 I I and for Science and Art, £167,552 Se
; making together £864,302 12•2 d. We let 4/nonage
have its way, and then pay the penalty. Let this order
of things be reversed; let us educate the people, and
diminish poverty and crime.
Too much, however, must not be expected from • little
education. Education does not convert all it towhee
into moral gold. In classes, alas I held to be cultivated,
vice often appears in its darkest colours. At the same
time it must be admitted that the tendency of education
is to elevate the tone and aide and character of the
people; and to make them self-reliant, and useful
citizens.

From • ratepayer's point of view, then, intl.* Interests
of economy, I nay we ought to try this remedy; and, at
any reasonable cost, give the children of the pauper and
criminal classes • useful education that will tend, how.
flowerer gradually, to raise their ideas and life aims; and
in time we shall find them to be lean meetly and troublo-
Rome and more useful partners in the great limn.
On grounds of moral and religious obligation the ques-
tion is easily nettled. Thome wretched litUe creatures
now in full training for the poor-house and the prison:
the victims of circumstances, are not young wild beasts
to be extirpated, or lepeni to be driven away to rot is
their corruptions; but with ourselves children of Ike
common Father, to be lovingly helped out of their Asab
wildness to • life of noble aims and virtuous service.
On every ground, then, I contend we see bound to do
our very best to educate our neglected children; and I
sincerely hope that for the credit of Stourbridge its rete•
payers will unanimounly resolve, if need be to ask, for
the formation of • School Board, sod will, when the time
comes, elect as meuibern of the Board only sash persons
an shall undertake to apply the Act, in all its fulness, toe
the benefit of the neglected children of our lanes and
courts.

Thanking you for the space you have so kindly afforded
me for these letters, and for the general accuracy with
which they have been printed,
I am, 171 c., dre.,
ECONOMIST.
Stourbridge, November 24, IVO.