The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-02 00:00:00

REFORM OF ENDOWED SCHOOLS.

TO TX. ZDITOZ OP THZ EXPRESq
SIR,—As the subject of endowed schools has now
become one of general interest, and as the future
msnagement of them is a question upon which very
little public discussion has taken place, I bare tho.ight
it possible that many of your readers, like mj self, feel
a degree of curiosity to ascertain the nature of the
different *chimes which may ultimately be adopted
by the authorities. With this view, I venture to
suggest the necesnity cf making the different schemes
public, and also the wisdom of consulting the inhabi-
tants of the districts interested, so that they may
know something of the manner in which these in-
stitution, shall be goverced in time to come.
Each scheme will bear, of counie, the impress of the
founder's intentions; tut as there must be a large
discretion exercised In the numerous cases which %ill
happily undergo the process of reformation, it would
be desirable that the public also, as well as those
locally interested, should know how they are hence-
forth to be managed. And this positive knowledge
of their management becomes the more necessary
when we reflect how shamefully the greater number
of them have b:en abused, and how discouragingly
these abuses must have acted upan the bene-
volent feelings of many charitably disposed persons.
It would be well, therefore, it all the schemes w. re
published, so that where possible, the best parts of
each scheme might be selected, and the beat one
adopted.

It is especially important that in the choice of
governors, or whatever other names thay may,bear,
the election or choice of them be based upon a popu-
lar foundation, and that such choice should not be in
the power of any patron (certainly not in any of those
who have already forfeited all confidence), nrr yet in
that of any class, properly so called. It will be neces-
sary to be secured at the outset against all pos.ibility
of the management degenerating into n clique of
self-appointing governors; for however high or lade.
pendent in a worldly sense they may be. all experi-
ence shows that independence beets indifference, and
indifference teglect. The emsti.ution of the board
of governors will, therefore, require the gre ate:t care,
for upon that constitution depends the momentous
question whether these truly great institutions shall
or shall not become the nucleus of still greater and
more efficient efforts for the education of the people.
I am sanguine enough to believe in their success,
and that they will became large and popular institu-
tions, and of much greater importance, in every
tense, than we have at present any idea
of. All the public require is lecurity against
corruption ; and publicity is in itself a great
security. To this we are all fully entitled. The
dread of insecurity in this respect Las the effect of
checking at its source the well-spring of private bene-
volence, an d of eutt ing off at the fountain head theatre am
of public bounty which would otherwi-e inevitably
flow towards these useful foundatior s. Were it per-
fectly certain that the funds devoted could not have
been corruply absorbed by private cupidity, such as
has pre-eminently distinguished the Brentwood
Grammar School, who shrill eay byw many large
additions would have been made to that distinguished
charity? During a period of more titan tee, cen-
turies how many benevolent parties would have
largely added by gifts, legacies, and other m-gens, to
assist the great purpose of the found, r, i❑ an object
which does honour to ote of the first virtues of our
nature. Even ragged schools are producing beneficial
effects, though supported merely by what was once
sneeringly termed a clam of " self-deluding enthu-
siasts."

To obtain this security then, the mode of eh c'ing
or choosing the governors is alone if the greatest im-
portance. In the case of the Brentwood school
there are fifteen parishes (the more the better),
' who will have exclusive interest in that insti-
tution. There are to be, I believe, 12 governors—not
quite one for each parish. Bat how to choose them is
I the great question. The first board of governors will
have many important matters to transact—many things
to do which will require gnat care and great in-
tegrity. The choice of the site, the purity of the
budding contracts, the selection of the masters (ex-
cept the head master), and many other things, in all
of which they most act with clean hands and beyond
suspicion. But before all and above all, tlrar acts
must bare the most perfect publicity. Na personal in-
fluence must be allowed to weigh against the public
good ; no important step be taken without public
cession; no pre-arrangements confirned without rigid
investietation. It may be said that these stapes-
tions might produce discomfort in the councils. 'this,
though far from certain, would not be an unqualified
evil. A little irritation is necessary to good health.
An occasional breeze clears the atmosphere, and a
little opposition is found abso.utely eeceseary to bene-
ficial legislation. But how far preferable even this
than the iniquitous condition of stagnant corruption
from which this charity has just emerged. In addi-
tion, the introduction of fresh governors, say every
three years, by the retirement of a porti'n of them at
those periods, would keep the board-ram healthy,
and refresh the gzverniug powers. No high-minded
gentleman could object, but would rather praise every
effort to protect this sacred properly against all the
world, even against himself, and against every indivi-
' dual of a body to which he belonged.
The governors ought to be men of high character
and gent lecoen of zeal. Not necessarily the worldly rich
nor the titled, but the zealous Christians—the good
men, if they can be Nebel, of all persuasions; men
' who, fir the love of good itself, will carry out honestly
the wishes of the country in these institutions.
I am aware that the Court of Chancery will require
to be satisfied as to the fitness el the proposed
governors fur the Brentwo id Grammar School. But
who is to propose them Surely not the patron! If
he be permitted to present his own list, no pew r in
court nor out of court will prevent the suspicion (after
' what has passed) that they would be merely
the nominees of tha patron. And shoald the rules of
their meeting
.permit three or fire to act for the whole
body, then a ireu to the confidence which the public
would have in the management.
Tne eases of the Beaton Grammar School and the
Middleton Grammar School, contained in your paper
of the 27th iect., convinces me that the appointment
of the governors is a subject of the highs,: im-
portance..

It may be thought that this anxiety is dearly an-
ticipating evils before they have arrived. Ido not
think so. This is the proper time to prevent evils,
and to check at once any hopes that the "grey
iniquity " which has hitherto absorbed the funds of
this noble charity can again be practised.
There is one other subject to which the parties in-
terested ought especially to direct their attention. It
is the question of the " law coats." It w,ll, indeed,
be a cruel satire upon the equity of the Court of
" Equity," if in the Brentwood school case it be per-
mitted that the costs of the proceedings during the
hit seventeen years shall he taken out of the funds of
the charity. In defiance of the court's own decree
the funds have been impudently pocketed by means
that I will not name; and if it be found that the cost
of this continuation of a put lic wrong is to he wrung
from the charity funds, then it will explain the delay
of justice. and will fairly throw upon the court itself
and others a portion of the guilt justly attributed to the
pstron and his party: lam the more anxious on this
part of the subject, knowing how frequently, in cases
of charity, the whole law expenses have en taken
uut of the estate. In one instance, lately, the whole
fund—lie charity itself—wee, I believe, insufficient
to nay the law expenses.
Under all the circumstances, it is imperatively
necessary that the parties interested look sharply into
the condition of affairs, and that they prepare their
minds for the exercise of their duties to the institu-
tions which are ari"ing. lam willing to believe that
some of the.c suggestions have been already con-
sidered and justly disposed of by the the proper
authorities ; still, at a time when so many " friendly
suits" are posing through the courts, and when so
little official information appears bef tre the pubic, I
have thought it proper, with your permission, to thus
draw a pas,irg attention to the subject.
Your, S:c., Z.