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London, England, 1865-03-01 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1865,

.----T-

Sir J. PAKINGTON'S observations on education
are always worthy of attention, and the right hon.

baronet never discourses upon the theme without

elucidating some mysteries, and giving some good
advice to his hearers. Last night he moved for a
Select Committee to inquire into " the constitution
of the Committee of Council on Education, and the
system under which the business of the office is con-

ducted." The debate was very interesting, and i

is satisfactory to find a subject of such importance

receiving proper attention, and also that the excel

lent proposition of Sir J. PAKINGTON was agreed to

The right hon. baronet showed in his comprehensive
speech that many errors had crept into the system
as at present constituted, and that glaring incon-
sistencies prevailed in several of its arrangements.
The • reorganisation of the Department is cer-
tainly most_ necessary for the due observance of
all. those functions which the public interest

imperatively calls for, and various other changes
were shown to be very necessary. Sir J. BAKING-
TON stated it to be his object that the department
when reorganised should be so constituted as to
" carry out that which it does not now even attempt,

to extend the blessings of education, which go now
only to the more favoured and more wealthy dis-

tricts which now enjoy the benefits of national
to the whole of England." A very great error a,

present committed was shown to be the practice of
entrusting the management of the Committee of
Council to those who are already almost overwhelmed
with the arduous nature of their vocations. Thus,
as Sir J. PAKINGTON observed, there are at present
several charged with that double responsibility,
and he for one knew enough of the claims
upon the time of the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty to be confident that he could not attend
to other matters besides his immediate duties.
Many eminent individuals have expressed
an earnest wish that there should be one responsible
party to preside over the important Department of
Education. Had their suggestions been carried out,
it is most probable that we should now experience
the advantages of an enlightened scheme, instead of
having to deplore the many failures of the present
fallacious mode of conducting affairs. Mr. LINGEN'S
evidence goes also to prove that a change is required.
Both theoretically and practically the working of
the department has been found to be defective, and
we can cordially concur with that passage in the
excellent speech before us, in which it is said that
"through the length and breadth of the land a
feeling of great dissatisfaction and distrust has arisen
with regard to the mode in which the department
is administered." When we ponder upon these

things it seems strange that something should not
have been done before in this important matter.
Better late than never is, however, a true saying,
and may prove applicable in this as in other cases,
and great credit is due to Sir J. PAKINGTON for his
zeal and perseverance in thus prosecuting his
schemes of reform. It is almost incalculable to
estimate the effects of the mistaken theories that
have prevailed in many instances on this question
of Education, and it is always a welcome sight
when men of intelligence and expee
e turn their
attention to the matter, and take it
up in the spirit
in which it ought to be treated. Mr. WALTER'S
suggestion was a very good one, and it was forth._
nately agreed to. It is very desirable that steps
should be taken to inquire into the best mode of ex-
tending the benefits of Government inspection and
the Parliamentary grant to schools at present un-
assisted by the State. When we reflect upon the
increasing population, and the scarcity of really
p-rimary instruction that exists in many places, it
becomes of the highest consequence to adopt mea-
sju.es of an extended scope and wide significance,
in order that the requirements of the case be duly
met and the exigencies of national education pro-