The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-04-08 00:00:00

MR. FORSTER, M.P., ON ELEMENTARY

TEACHING.

The course of twelve lectures on the principles of
physical geography, which was set ageing in October
last by the Gilchrist Educational Trust, in connection
with St. Thomas Charterhouse School of Science for
Teachers, was brought to a close on Friday night with
an address by Professor Duncan on 'Glaciers; their
Formation, Movements, and Denudiug Powers." The
lecture, like its predecessors, was delivered in the
Foresters' Hall, Wildernees-row, London, and at-
tracted a large and attentive audience. Mr. W. E.
Forster, M.P., was called upon to preside, and was
loudly cheered on taking the chair.
Mr. Forster, in opening the proceedings, said—l
must first sympathise with you in the disappointment
you must experience this evening. My noble friend
Earl Grasiville had fully intended to be with you on
the present occasion, but I received a note from him
the other day stating that it would be quite impossible
for him to be here, owing to public business of which
he was not aware when he promised to attend. In
fact, he is looking after university education in the
House of Lords at this moment. (Applause). But al-
though his lordship's absence must be a disappointment
to you, it is, I can assure you, a real pleasure to me to
be able to be present with you to-night, and to renew
my acquaintance with many of the elementary teachers
of London and its neighbourhood. I du not-desire to de-
tain you; but I cannot help saying, as I have so many of
the teachers of the metropolis now before me, that oneof
the greatest pleasures and comforts which I enjoy in look-
ing upon our educational movement is derived from a
knowledge of the fact that during the time the in-
struction of the people has been a matter of interest
to me, the position of the teacher, and especially of
the elementary teacher, has improved, and is now de-
cidedly better than it was when I first paid attention
to the subject. (Applause.) I am not speaking of
mere salaries. These have certainly increased, although
we are of course aware that the cost of living is also
greater than it was. But what I desire to allude to
more particularly is the fact that the position of the
teacher—the position of the masters and mistresses of
our elementary schools—is much more fairly acknow-
ledged and properly appreciated than it used to be. (Ap-
plain:KO The country believes that you have a high
calling and a great duty before you; and I hope and
believe you are yourselves aware of what is expected
from you, and that you are doing your best to
meet that expectation. That cannot be done and
is not done by you by any assertion of superiority, or
by any exemplification of the old pedagogic spirit at
which people used to laugh. Generally speaking,
masters and mistresses are meeting the call made upon
them, and are tryina, as they best can, to do their
duty in connection with this important work, and to
qualify themselves for its efficient discharge. (Hear,
hear). IMn not going into the question as to he
extent to which science, or even the rudiments of
science, can be taught in our elementary schools. Were
I to enter upon that subject, I should have to repeat to
you what I have stated in the House of Commons and
elsewhere, that I believe it is our duty to give to the
children in our elementary schools as much learning
as they can obtain during the time they are there
and that we ought not to be afraid of teaching
them, as it is called, "above their station" in life.
(Applause). Knowledge, substantially and prac-
tically taught, can do nothing but good; and those
of you who are likely to take part in this movement
are quite alive to what would be the danger, the ab
surdity, of teaching science to boys and girls who have
not learned the elements of knowledge. lam con-
vinced, however, it will be found that that school which
has the best rudimentary scientific teaching is almost
always the school in which reading, writing, and arith-
metic are also most efficiently taught (hear, hear) ;
and that masters and mistresses who take an interest in
science are not bad elementary teachers, but are,
generally speaking, better than those who practically
ignore the acquisition of rudimentary science. (Hear,
hear). I must again express the pleasure which I feel
in being with you. You have formed these valuable
scientific classes ; you are exercising self-denial in
taking many hours from your scanty leisure to attend
them, and I wish you every possible suczess. (Ap-
plause.)
Professor Duncan then proceeded with his lecture,
which was listened to throughout with evident interest
and appreciation. On its conclusion cordial votes of
thanks were passed to the learned lecturer, to Mr.
Forster, and to the Gilchrist Trust. Mr. Forster, in
the course of a few general observations, in acknow-
ledging the compliment paid him, took occasion to
observe that the great question of education was as safe
as the glaciers of which Professor Duncan had spoken.
No individual could prevent, and be cid not think any
individual desired to prevent, its progress; and as for
the successors of the late government he believed that
those gentlemen were as anxious to push it forward as
he was himself. (Applause.)