The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-04 00:00:00

Elie <stoarribrge (Nutter.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1073.

THE PROPOSED NEW BOARD SCHOOL.

At the meeting of the School Board, on Mon-
day eveuiug last, Mr. Scott reviewed in a
masterly manner the whole question of School
Board Education, as compared with the present
voluntary system. AA the Government have
finally settled the question as to deficiency of
whoal accommodation in the affirmative, he
considered that it would be the wisest course
for the Board to set to work to supply the neces-
sary accommodation, at the earliest opportunity.
He showed conclusively that the best way of do-
ing this would be to purchase a site in the re-
quisite locality, and build a new school. The
deficiency might be met—some would think—
by hiring a room for the required purpose.
But he showed that there were almost insuper-
able difficulties in the way of doing this, one of
the gravest of these being the almost impos-
sible one of finding a room of such dimensions
as would Miura accommodation for 311 children
—the number spoken of by the Department—in
a manner to satisfy all the requirements of a
Government Inspector. But even if such a
room could be found he would not advise the
renting of it by the Board. His reason for this
was that in that case the Board School would
lose in character, when contrasted with the fine
buildings of the existing denominational schools
. '1
which have been erected on the voluntary prin-
ciple. He aas willing to give every credit to
the conductors of those schools for the great
good that lied been effected by them; but he
himself wits a firm believer in the " popular"
principle of education, and thought it only re-
quired a fair start to demonstrate its superior-
ity over the system that had hitherto obtained.
On economic. grounds, too, he considered that it
would be much more advisable to build a school
than to hire rooms; as if the latter course were
adopted, in a few years—with the naturalgrowth
of the town—the deficiency of accommodation
would increase, and they would then be com-
pelled to build; the money they bad previously
paid for hire or rent being completely !ost to
the ratepayers. Above all, if they wished to
study true economy,ithey would do so by making
the new school of such a character as would, by
its superior attractions, draw so many children
to it that it would in time become an almost
self-supporting institution. This desideratum
could only be achieved by having a thoroughly
good school, presided over by a master in every
way competent for his post. He considered
that the schools already established in the town
were especially fortunate in their masters, and
if the Board wished for success in their school
they most have one quite up to the standard of
those already in the town. They could not
secure the services of an efficient teacher—of
the stamp which they would require—without
paying him a good salary ; but it would be much
better to do this and make the school a paying
concern; than allow it by a cheese-paring policy
to become a permanent :burden
.upon the rate-
payers. He next dealt with the question as to
the best mode of raising funds for this purpose,
and stated that they could now obtain money on
exceptionally favourable terms from the Govern-
ment. If they borrowed £2,000 —which he
thought would about meet their requirements
for the purposes he had stated—Government
would allow them to have it at an interest of 3i
per cent. (about £7O per year) by paying which
for 10 years they would clear off both interest
and principal , and the inhabitants of that date
would have the school free from any charge
whatsoever. There had been a great fuss made
about the expense of building a new school;
but, he asked, what would £7O a year amount
to when.divided amongst the ratepayers of the
township. He thought it quite possible that in
future some of the out-lying districts would be
included in the townseip, and then they would
have to take their share of the burden. He
finally pointed out that those who would reap
the most benefit from the Board School would
not be the bona fide ratepayers, but artisans and
the working Classes generally, whose children
would attend it. We think the soundness of
this reasoning must commend itself to all sen-
sible unprejudiced persons. Mr. Scutt has
thoroughly studied the subject in all its bear-
ings, and we feel convinced that his arguments
will receive that careful consideration from the
other members of the Coard—at the committee
meeting which is arranged for that purpose—
which they deserve.