The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-17 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 17, 1864.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

-6.--
REPORT OF HER MAJESTY'S COMMIS.

SIONKRB.-(THIS DAT.)

This morning was issued, in four bulky blue
books, the report, with appendix and evidence, of
her Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the revenues and management of certain
oolleges and schools, and the studies pursued and
instruction given therein. The commissioners
were the Earl of Clarendon, the Karl of Devon,
Lord Lyttelton, the Hon. N. Twisleton, Sir Stafford
Northcote, the Rev. W. IL Thompson and Mr.
H. H. Vaughan. The schools reported on are
Rugby, Shrewsbury, Winchester, Harrow, Charter-
house, Westminster, Merchant Taylors', St. Paul's,
and Eton. The commissioners held 127 meetings,
and examined 130 witnesses ; and they also per-
sonally visited each of the nine schools. Each
school is reported on separately, and recom-
mendations relating to each are subjoined.
These recommendations may be broadly clagaified
under five main heads-1, those which relate to
the constitution, functions, and powers of the go-
verning bodies of the several schools; 2, those re-
lating to the rights of foundations ; 3, those relat-
ing to the endowments of the schools, whether
existing at the schools themselves or at the univer-
sities ; 4, those relating to the management of the
schools, including the appointment, remuneration,
and powers of the masters, the system of admission,
the regulations with respect to the board and lodg-
ing of the boys, the rates of charge, and the gene-
ral discipline of the schools ; 3, those relating to the
course of instruction. As regards the first three
at least of these the commissioners apprehend that
parliamentary legislation will be required, in order
to make the changes which they consider desirable.
" To determine," say the commissioners, "the form
which such legislation should take is not within our
province. Whether any step should be taken to
give the sanction of parliamentary authority to
soy part of our recommendations under the two
latter heads is a question of grave public policy
upon which we do not express any opinion."
A separate chapter is assigned to each school,
containing a succinct statement of the material
facts relating to it which have been elicited by
the inquiry, together with such observations as
are necessary to explain the changes recommended.
In the "General Report," with which the let vol.
opens, there is a summary of recommendations, 32
in number, applicable to the schools generally. We
select a few :

1. The governing bodies of the several colleges sad
schools should be reformed, so far es may be neoeinary. in
order to render them thoroughly suitable and efficient for
the purpose' and duties which they are designed to fulfil.
2. The subsisting statutes and laws of the several col-
leges and schools, by w►ich they respectively are, or legally
ought to be governed, should be carefully revised under
competent authority ; roles and obligations which it is
inexpedient to retain should be abrogated ; new regula-
tions should be introduced where they are required ; and
the governing body of each college and school should be
empowered, where they do not already pewee the power,
to amend its stated.* from time to time. The approval of
some superior authority, such as the Queen in council, or
the visitor, may be required where the character of the
foundation renders this desirable.

3. The governing body of each college sad school should
have the general management of the property and endow-
ments of the college or school. They should have the ap-
pointment sad dismissal of the head muter, and should re-
tain, where they now pores, them, the same powers in
respect of the second master. They should be authorised
to make general regulations for the government and admi.
nistration of the whole school, including both foundation
boys and boys not on the foundation, except in matters
specially maenad to the head master. They should be
especially empowered and charged to make such regulations
as may from time to time be required on the following
subjects :—a. The terms of admission and the number of
the school ; 6. The general treatment of the foundation
boys ; e. Boarding-houses ; the rates of charge for
boarding, the conditions on which leave to keep • board-
ing-house should be given, and any other matters
which may appear to need regulation under this head ;
d. Fees and charges of all kids, and the application of the
money to be derived from thole sources. e. Attendance at
Divine service ; chapel services and sermons, where the
school possesses a chapel of its own. f. The sanitary con-
dition of the school, and of all places connected with it.
g. The times sod length of the holidays. Ir. The introduc-
tion of new branches of study, and the suppression of old
ones, and the relative importance to be assigned to each
branch of study. It should be incumbeot, however, on the
governing body, before making regulations upon any of
these subjects, or upon any subject affecting the manage-
meet or instruction of the school, not only to consider at-
tentively soy representations which the head master may
address to them, but to consult him in such • romper as to
give ample opportunity for the expression of his views.
R. The classical languages and literature should continue
to hold the principal place in the course of study.
9. In addition to the study of the classics and to religious
teaching, every boy who passes through the school should
receive instruction in arithmetic and mathematics ; in one
modern language at least, which should he either French or
German ; in some one branch at least of natural science ;
and in either drawing or music. Care should also be taken
to ensure that the boys acquire a good general knowledge of
geography and of &Delimit history, some acquaintance with
modern history, and a command of pare grammatical
English.
10. The ordinary arithmetical sod mathematical course
should include arithmetic so taught as to make every boy
thoroughly familiar with it, and the elements of geometry,
algebra, and plane trigonometry. In the case of the more
advanced student., it is desirable that the course should
comprise also an introduction to applied mathematics, and
especially to the elements of mechani
11. The Leeching of natural science should, wherever it
is practicable, include two main branches, the one com-
prising chemistry and physics, the other comparative phy-
siology and natural history, both animal and vegetable.
A scheme for regulating the teaching of this subject should
be framed by the governing body.
12. The teaching of classics, rcathernatim, and dii:nity
should continue during the whole time that each boy stays
at school (subject to Recommendation 13). The study of
modern languages and that of natural science should con-
tinue respectively doing the whole or a substantial part of
the time, and the study of drawing er music should con-
tinue during a substantial pert, at least, of the time.
13. Arrangements should be made for allowing boys,
after arriving at • certaio place in the school, and upon the
request of their parents or guardians, to drop some
portion of their classical work (for example, Latin vane
and Greek composition), in order to devote more time to
mathematics, modern languages, or •atural science ; or on
the other hand, to discontinue wholly or in part natural
science, modern languages, or mathematics, in order to give
more time to classics or some other study. Care should be
taken to prevent this privilege from being abused as a cover
for idleness ; and the governing body, in communication
with the head-master, should frame such regulations as may
afford • sufficient safeguard in this respect. The permis-
sion to diecoctione any portion of the school work should
in each cane rest with the head-muter, who, before exer-
cising his discretiou, should consult the boy's tutor (if be
his one) and the muter who has given him instruction in
the study which he purposes to discontinue, should satisfy
himself of the propriety of either granting or refusing the
the application, and in the latter cue should, personally or
through the tutor, communicate his reasons to the parents.
*EI. Everybody should be required, before admission to
the school, to pass an eutrance examination, end to show
himself well grounded for his age in classics and arithmetic,
and in the elements of either French or German. It appears
generally advisable that the examination in each subject
should be conducted by one of the roasters ordinarily teeth-
ing that subject.

24. In schools where seniority or length of time during
which a boy has remained in a particular form or part of
the school has been countered a ground for promotion, no
boy should be promoted on that rolled unless he has
pasted such an examination in the work of the form into
which he is to be promoted as proves that he Is really Ilt to
enter that form.

25. No boy should be suffered to remain in the school
who fails to make reameable prqrrees in it. For
this purpose certain stages of progress should be
fixed by reference to the forma into which the
school is divided. A maximum age should be fixed for
attaining each stage ; and any boy who exceeds this maxi-
mum without reaching the corresponding stage of promo-
' One of oar number [Yr. Vaughan] &went, from this