The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-25 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 25.

ON the 30th June, 1858, a Commission was ap-
pointed to inquire into the state of Popular
Education in England, and to report upon the mea-
sures required for its extension. The Commis-
aioners were the Duke of Newesirrte, Sir
Jon N CoLERIDGE, two Clergymen, the Protegee". of
Modern History at Oxford, Mr. SENIOR, and Mr.
Jlis it. The selection was judicious, for, besides
their general eminence, these gentlemen were dia-
tingnisheil fur their interest in the subject of edu-
cation. They had the additional advantage of
representing more or less faithfully the various
opinions which are held in this country, the
important subject into which they were di-
rected to inquire. It was not, therefore, to
be expected that seven Commissioners, starting
with views so divergent, should be brought to an
agreement ; nor indeed, as appears by
the Report which has just been laid before
Parliament, has entire agreement been ob-
tained. But it is certainly remarkable
that, notwithstanding all these difficulties, the
whole of the Commissioners have signed the Report,
and therefore the public are entitled to assume that
upon the whole its conclusions have their sanction.
Although it may be thought that the publication
of this Report has been somewhat delayed, it is
fortunate that the inquiry took place when it did.
Ten years have elapsed since 1851, and a new
census was to be undertaken. The difficulties of
obtaining a complete educational census were con-
siderable, and imperfect as it might have been it
would certainly have cost the country many
thousand pounds. It appears that this expense
has been saved, and judging from the
statistical part of the Report before us, it
must be admitted that more complete educational
statistics it would be difficult to obtain. There is
DO subject upon which statistic are of more vital
importance than in the matter of education. There
are, however, scarcely any existing statistics on
which less reliance is generally to be placed.
Even in America, where education excites univer-
sal sympathy, the complaints are general—espe-
cially in the large cities—that the statistical
accounts are by no means trustworthy.
We shall not pretend, within the compaas of a
single article, to give anything like an analysis
of this voluminous document. But if the time
consumed in its preparation has been long, it must
be admitted, on the other hand, to be an ex-
haustive Report. Those who will take the
trouble to read through these five hundred
and fifty pages will have a tolerably complete
view of the present state of popular education in
England and Wales. They will find an account of
the leading institutions--public and private—by
which the education of the poor is superintended
and assisted, and of the different classes of elemen-
tary schools. They will be able to ascertain the
general character and ability of the teachers, both
public and private, and the sort of education fur-
nished at the training colleges to the pupils who are
destined to become elementary teachers of the
highest order. The Commissioners have followed
these teachers to their schools, tested the merits of
their instruction, and inquired into the regu-
larity of the attendance of the scholars. They have
not confined themselves to the children of the inde-
pendent poor: they have inquired into the schools
for pauper children ; into the factory schools ;
into the ragged, industrial, and refor-
matory schools ; and into the State schools for
children and adults in the Army and Navy.
In short, they have investigated the various
machinery which exists for the purpose of edu-
tating the various sections into which the most
numerous classes are divided, and have stated
their opinion of the value of each part of that
machinery.

In the course of their inquiry they have occupied
much time in discussing the system of government
aid and inspection, which has now been established
for twenty years, and which absorb an annual
mum of more than 800,0001. Whilst the Com-
missioners admit them* benefits which this system
has conferred upon the country, they are not in-
sensible to its defects. They point out its growing
tendency to indefinite expense, its inability to
assist the poorer districts, and the complicated
business which encumbers the central office of the
Committee of Council. They object, therefore,
to the extension of the present system, and propose
a substitute. This is, indeed, the only part of
the Report which is quite novel, and it is
one which invites criticism. In substance their
proposal is this. Whilst retaining the leading
features of the present system, and simplifying its
working, they propose to combine with it a local
system which "may diffuse a wider interest in edu-
" cation," may distribute its burdens more equally,
" and may enable every school in the country to
" participate in its benefits." In short, in addi-
tion to the sums obtained from the Committee of
Council, which are henceforth to be much re-
stricted, they propose that educational grants shall
be paid out of the county and borough rates, "in
" consideration of the attainment of a certain
" degree of knowledge by the children of the
" school during the year preceding the payment."
These are matters which must excite discussion,
and on which there will, no doubt, be great dif-
ferences of opinion : though the main object of
diminishing the increasing demand upon the gene-
ral taxation of the iountry is one to which no one
can object. But there are two subjects upon
which the Commissioners seem to be entirely

agreed, and which demand the instant attention
of the Government. It has long been ascertained
that the real source of nine-tenths of ignorance
and crime is the children of paupers. It is once
more declared that the influence of the workhouses
on the children educated within the walls is per
and that great Moral evil has resulted
from educating children in close oontact with
adults, many of whom are of • corrupt character.
This, if there were nothing else, is sufficient to
account for the fact that pauperism is hereditary.
But great uis the evil, the remedy is easy. The
children must be separated from the adults,
and educated in district schools. This
change is essential, and ought to be
made compulsory on Boards of Guardians.
Besides this, it is proposed that the children of
out-door paupers should not be permitted, as at
present, to grow up in ignorance in the streeta ;
and the guardians are to be obliged to make the