The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

SOCIETY.

SOUTHERN COUNTIES'_ AnULT EDUCATION

The eleventh anniveroary of this important and
useful association ...held .n Timidity last at the Town-
ball, Bien !ford. The prix-eeding. oconmeoced shortly
sifter 10 o'clock, with reading of papers and disciasion.
The atteolence of mensbers was limited. Among those
present were—J. C. Denial, Esq., of Longthorn the
Hon. Charles Welke., of Netheravon, Wilt.; Hon. and
Rev. S. Rest, Abbott'. Ann, Andover; Rev. Mr
Bak. r, of Preston, near Weymouth; Ray. J. Watt
Rs,. It R. Watts ; Rey. J. R. Quirk •' Rev. R. Head-
land, Broadway, Dorchester; Rev. Dames Olivier,
Wilton Rey. D'Oyly Snow ; Rev C. Wickham;
Bev. Mr. Cirnegie, Cranborne ,• Mr. Groves, an. ; Mr.
Wellington GI ord. ; Mr Mann; U. Stint, Le. Thechair
we. take" by IC. Hansel. Esq. Previous to the read-
ings the Hon. and Rey. S. Beet placed in • conspicuous
plias tabular lists of all those who bed succeeded in
taking the °evident.s granted by the association, which
numbered from it• commencement., in 1859, M. He
then explained that the reason why such catalogue was
kept was, that whenever reference was made to the
society's operations, they had by them • register of thoa
who had sumseded in advancing in Ile by the aid
afforded by night-clad.; and instanciol the case of two
brothere, one of whom was 'till working on a farm
near where he residet, at 86. tier week, and the other
taking advantage of the night school, and obtaining a
certificate from the emaciation, sueeeeded in passing •
Government examinati aid was now resocidng •
salary of ll:100 at Calcutta.
. _

The first paper was read by the Rev. Mr. Ceasing:ire,
on "The Revised Code in its application to night
echo de, and the method of pros iding funds for night
unhook." The rev. gentleman maid he celled attention
to tt a important subject at the annul meeting held at
Davie a, and since that t.me he had given it his earnest
attention. He then proceeded to allow that the in-
spection of night schools by the government inspector
wu made at the very time of year when they were in a
gr at measure unattended ; end he also stated his con-
viction that the system now adopted, whereby one
school amid claim help from Government and another
amid nut, Was a very past: one, inasmuch as the
school no debarred often required such help mote than
the sucoeuful one. To meet the cause of complaint, he
suggested that a memorial or sugge-tion be made to the
Committee of Council on Education, praying them to
allow the diocesan inspector to be the inspector of
night school., believing that bin oertificate would be
satisf.ctory to Government. It might be objected that
night schools ought to be supported by voluntary all,
and no doubt this could be obtained in towns ; bet there
were very many perished where Buell aid could not be
bad, ned where the burden of keeping them up rested
almost solely on the clergyman, and in 11111.ny CUM the
incumbent might be totally unqualified for the task.
It therefore became necessary that. im addition to the
expense of firing, kc, the services of • regular assistant
should be °brained. He thought that at the Government
would allow 21. 6d. for every scholar regular in attest
dance, and that for the person who pseud the examina-
tion a further gratuity of Et should be awuded, they
would be able, with the pence subscribed by thou who
attended, t lecture the services of an efficient muter.
A very able paper on the seine subject, written by the
Rev. John Monkhoune, of Oakley, near Basingstoke,
was then read by the Rev. 8. Beet. It refened first
to the great and increasing need of night school., from
the fact that children were taken away from day
school, while quite young, and suggested that a registry
for the three counties be kept of those persons qualified
to amid in taking the charge of night echools ; and as It
would not py •ma only to attend such school three
night. is the week, his services might be secured for
echoes in two different perishes. 'He mid that this
plan bad been adopted in part, and be knew of
• case where a man was hired as under-gardeoer
for the day, and aa teacher for • night school afterwards.
The rev. gentleman than read a letter from a working.
man living at Andover, whose communication was re-
ceived with evident pl. &sure and satisfaction by thou
present. In it he referred to the different class of
labourers required at the present day to those who
would suit in fernier times. If the horse-keeper knew
bow to harness the home, and bring the vehicle to the
door, he knew sufficient for former times; but it was
very different with the railway porter. He must be
civil and obliging, know how to read, and possess a far
higher st tnelerd of education. It was very evident
from the fact of boys being taken away early from
school that adult education was emissary. The Reel
and moral etrength of the laity was the litrength of the
Church, and this could not be kept up without the
interest of young men were enlisted in it, and they
would not feel interest except they were educated. The
writer also referred to public leeturer.,and how difilult
it was to get gentlemen qualified for the work to address
working men, repudiating thou who went from village
to village as paid lecturer. as impostora. One most
valuable suggestion he put forth was that an offertory
collection be made on behalf of night school, once •
year in the p trail church, at that all, and especially
those chiefly benefitted, might have the opportunity of
emoting. Too often night school. failed from the fact
of offence being given to the noblemen or gentry who
supported them, but if all helped by • regular system of
pavmeot they would not. The writer concluded his ex-
cellent remarks by earnest expreadons of Rood will and
interest in the society's work, asursigesed himself—" A
Working Mechanic"

The CHAIRMAN then proposed that the best thanks of
the meeting be given to thou) gentlemen who had so
ably brought the subject forwent. He fully agreed with
he Rev. Mr. Carnegie that the Goternment Inspectors'
visit was made at the wrong time of year, and that it
would be aivisable to make the suggestion that the
diocesan inspector should also be the inspector of the
night school. Such a plan he considered easy of
adoption, and one likely to meet with great approbation.
He could not but notice the very great difference in
amount of assistance given by tie Government to day
end night schools, and he considered the suggestions
made by Mr. Carnegie, and those °Detained in the nab-
attic papers read by Mr. Elmit,sa worthy of their conside-
ration, and es likely to meet the difficulty felt from
want of fund.. He gave it as his opinion, founded on
actual expetience, that reading rooms for the working
el saes could be setisfoctorily carried on without soy
extraneous aid, provided suitable neons were built. He
hal been instrumental in forming two such aocieties,
and as regarded one of them, after all expenses were
paid they expected to have a balance of £8 in howl at
the end of the year. The Chairman also expressed his
opinion thnt it was not only the ditty but to the interest
of landlords, ferment, end employ, re of labour t., &oast
in supporting night schools, and to encourage their sons
to take an interest in them. Were the people to be
eduwted we should not have the mime and tutelary in the
country.
Til! Rev. S. Byer, in confirmation of the Chairman's
remarka, said that some time ago a man employed as •
shepherd came to his schoolmaster, whom be (Mr.
Hatt) had enoonraged to take boarders, requesting him to
take t. is son. The schoolmaster was surpnged.and asked
bin, how he wan able to pay, to which the men replied
that he bad saved up EM, and he thought it would not
pay him better than to spend it in educating his bon,
for said he if he rem* ns as he is, he will grow up
and perhaps earn 10s. per week ; but if I have him
educated he may earn mere, so that my 1110 will in
course of years amount to 000.
The Rev. J R. QUiRR said there was one difficulty in
connection with the operations of the soc'ety he wished
to point out, and thet WY that the lad educated in the
bight alioni had no chance of competing with • lad who
had just left the day school. In their own town a
young man had competed for the prizes, and, lad so
educated had taken them from him. Yet the young
titan pamed • very good examination. The oonsequence
was ttlat the labouring clams were disappointed and dis-
sati•fied, and would not compete again.
The 1t.,. Kr. Bent, of Preston, said that the only
way be could see to meet this difficulty was to have •
graduated scale of prizes and subjects, so that thaw
who had the advantage over others by previous educa-
tion might have a severe teat applied to them. As re.
/Larded the obtaining of efficient teachers for their night
.almol, he thought it would answer in small country
parishes if a sharp intelligent lad wu selected, and sent
to • town school for a short time, so that he might be
able to instruct, and take the charge of such school at a
trifling remuneration.
_

Roe. Mr. D'OTLY Snow said it was an important
question whether there was any arrangement by which
a mere labourer who came into competition with another
more f ,vourably placed could compete with him to
advantage.
After some remarks by two or three permits present,
the Rev. 8. RIM said that the party who hail been
alluded to failed in two out of four of the subjeets for
examination, namely, arithmetic and the goon ; nd in
proof that the standard required was not to, high,
referred to the lilt. which showed that eerti6eatet had
been granted to labour, is, navvies, garden ru.
apprentice., be. ; and that if a lower standard was
adopted the wniety would fail in its resulte, ii• then
stated that out of eight who had gained eert4catee, and
were considered eligible for the Government eituation
offered by the Comm tiee of Council, 'in came from
lionoishire, and of t..eoe four from Blandford. (Chart's.)
Unfortunately the whole of thew, with one exception,
wpte too young, and the one who was eligible did not
go pp to London to compete. He oungratulatet hut
Blandford friends on their enemas, and wee pleased to
ase among them one who had worked in their adult
school (Mr. Fiaher).
A long converaation ensued cie the 'object of Govern-
ment inapeci ion, Mr. HEADLAND suggesting that it was
yule po-,ib'e to carry on the examination by parern
though the post, au as to avoid the expeo-e of travelling.
To tide Mr. Re-t replies that as one i 1 the chief subjects
was being rwid tine could not be done.
After ROOM further remarks the motion of the Chide
man was ciarrtrl men COS.

The nest paper on " The saint of an Educational
Test, coda Uniform Esaminatinn and Certificate," was
read by the 1t.,. De,REe OLIVIER, of Wilton, who
enplaned his opinion that it was from the unit of eneh
uniform examination that employere looked upon the
oertific it.. gmntel by the society as value's..., and that
fioni the same cause the labourers thenpielvea did not
look upon them with sufficient rrgard to their worth.
if • sic expressed his opinion that the staodard required
was not high enough, and that until it was raised
masters wont." not attach mach value to the oertilleates
ranted. He also alloded to the provision made by
Government to haa the factory children educated, aid
sail be did not consider it f .ir that the same plan was
not adopted as regards tie children employed in agrl•
culture. He advised that measure. be taken to introit
employers is the certificates given by the society, by
bales the nubject more publicly koown through the
public pram, and advised that more prises and less
certificates should he granted.
The Clielletell, altar thanking the we. gentleman for
his paper, ariii the subject be had brought forward was
of considerable impormass. H. amof opinion that the
standard for a certificate should not he in the least
degree lowered He had went *eral young men up aa
candhlates for the Metropolitan robes. who had returned,
and with discoaragemeat in their fame reported their
non.encoess. because they were not sullietently educated.
He told them to ham a mason st the night &Moo', and
try again.
The Hon. C. RAIW called attention to the neeeecity ,
of sousing to some practical result by their discussions.
Ow.bad said that the standard for • certificate '
was too *lt, and Mr. Olivier had jut stated that it
was too low. His advise was to let it remain is it was.
(Cheer& )
Tbe Bev. & Barr said the society desired to give an
▪ poem,* goad bythe certificates they awarded,
and be wagger* this object was gained. He bow of a
young man who obtained a aitaati a sta males of a
refortulairy entim_ly thissegh ma4Mig shebe
had Mitred The imam why these

were little thought of might he that there were is '
many certificate* gieess at tshe present day that
employers thought but little of them. There was great
steed of some metre' body to examine each eertilleattee,
and until that was formed the real valued those greeted
by the society would not be felt.
The Hon. C. Rate= suggested that a certified copyprinted on
glazed calico should be gizen to the sare
oesofel candidate., soz that he could pot it in an envelope
and send it to his friends, or to eity gentleman be
apPlied to for a situation.
To this suggestion Mr. Burr added that the name of
the recipient should be attached in his own hand-
writing.
The next paper on "The Improvement of Cottaees
in roonnex,on with the Conference of t'se Society of Arta."
written by tho Rey. Mr. T•issing, was read by Mr.
Best. It pointed out that • clean and well ordered
hones we. euential t stlle moral, social, and religions well-
being of the inmates. Landlords toz often built cottage,
for their labourers with • view more to architectural and
out • ard sposter snce than to the wants of the labourer's
family. Mr. Heston, of the Society of Arta, was of
opinion that two roosns were all that was required. but
them should be comfortably end decently arranged.
The laws of settlement and the poor law- lud to •
considerable extent prevented the erection of eottagee.
This paper, though short, was a very able one ; we
regret that our space forbids us giving more than an
outline of it.
The Ito.. S. BEST said that landlords were often
blained for not erecting ootteges for their labotuers ;
but it we. • very difficult quession to deal with, and
the remarks made by his friend Mr. Twining were worthe
of emuideration. The law of tenure less opposed to
landlords buildingjeottages, inasmuch ss they could
hardly exneci • man advanced in life to spend his money
on tssat for which he conld not expect • reasonable
amount of interest, and, often when such cottages were
built, the labourer we. charged le weekly rent for it.
use, when he had only fts. weekly wee... The building
of labourers' cottages must be patios • better foundation
than charity. It must be considered the claim the
wet ki OT • man had upon his employer to be provided with
• suitable *Also,
The CHAIRMAN said that the question of providing
proper and decent cotturs for the Laboring classes
was one of the grestist importanoe, for if such were
not provided all their efforts to educate the people
would be of little avail. He then alluded tothesusall area
proposed by Mr. Heaton for such cottages,and expressed
his opinion that there ought to be at least three rooms. He
also said that the sanatory state of cottages had much
improved during the last few yeareas we. shown by the
decrease of many diseases in village., which were often
caused by ceupools in front of the houses. After some
further remark, he proposed the thanks of the meeting
to Mr. Twining for hie edmirable paper. This being
starriest, the further consideration of the questions for
discussion was reserved till the evening meeting.