The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-08 00:00:00

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.

A conference of teachers and other persons interested
in middle-class education, for the purpose of discussing the
recommendations made by the Schools Inquiry Commis-
sioners in their recent report, was held yesterday after-
noon, in London, under the presidency of the Rev. W.
Haig-Brown, head-master of the Charterhouse School, and
President of the Council of the College of Preceptors,
under whose auspices the meeting was convened.
The subjects set down for discussion were six, viz. : 1.
"Qualifications of schoolmasters ;" 2. "Grades of schools ;"
3. " Privileges to be granted to registered private schools ;
what can be done to improve private schools and make the
profession attractive to men of ability ;" 4. " Inspection
and examination of schools by a central authority, and the
relative advantages of inspection and examination ;" 5.
" Constitution of the proposed council of examinations :"
6. "Education of girls."
Dr. HAIGH BROWN, in opening the proceedings, briefly
referred to the importance of the subject which the con-
ference had met to discuss. It was impossible, he said, to
overrate the extent of the bearing of the report of the
commissioners upon individuals and the country
at large, and it was the duty of all freely to
canvass the issues they had raised. The resolutions sub-
mitted were only for the purpose of guiding the
discussion of the meeting without waste of time to the
pith of the matters they were called upon to consider.
Having laid down the rule that all the speakers should con-
fine themselves to ten minutes for their speeches, and stated
that letters had been received from a number of gentlemen
who had intended to be present, but were prevented, the
chairman called upon Mr. Rule to read an analysis of the
suggestions of the Royal Commissioners on the first sub-
iect.

This being done, Mr. RULE moved the first resolu-
tion, requiring each teacher—whether of public or private
schools—granted privileges by Parliament to give evidence
of fitness. He referred largely to Mr. Lowe's
speeches on education, arguing that the Legisla-
ture should not recognise any school which had
not a head-master, at all events, duly qualified ; while at
the same time it shcal not prevent any one from esta-
blishing a school, even if not qualified.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. DYER, who pointed
out that at present no machinery existed by which a
middle-class schoolmaster could become properly qualified.
The CHAIRMAN here intimated that at a meeting of the
College of Preceptors held the previous evening, a resolu-
tion had been passed to the effect that a professorship of
the theory and practice of education should be esta-
blished.

Mr. WYLES thought that the present schools, if brought
up to the standard the meeting hoped they would
eventually possess,would furnish ample means for training
schoolmasters, and that no normal schools for that purpose
were needed.

Dr. HODGSON regretted that on the Royal Commission,
admirably constituted as it was, there was no one actually
engaged inthe duties of the scholastic profession.
An amendment to the resolution was moved and
seconded freeing private schools from the requirements of
the resolution for two years.
Mr. Payne, Mr. Shapcott, Dr. Klein (who creates
much amusement by the emphatic assertion that it was a
well-known fact that the schools of Prussia were much
superior to these of England), Mr. Gawtrop, Dr. Oppler,
Mr. Behrens, Mr. Dyason, Mr. Lupin, and the
Rev. Mr. Dorsay, having spoke on the subject,
The Rev. A. CORDER moved as an amendment " That
this Conference deprecates any legal enactment which
should entitle any teacher to privileges derived from State
recognition, except in cases where the State supplies the
funds, and the recognition is in consequence of the results
of teaching."

This was seconded by Mr. NEWCOME, and supported by
the Rev. Mr. HODGSON, who, amidst much laughter, con-
tended that the private schoolmaster in this country had
just the social position he deserved.
After some further discussion, the first resolution was
carried, the amendments proposed by Mr. Conder and
Mr. Angel respectively being lost by large majorities.
The second resolution on the first subject, approving of
a university examination :for schoolmasters in " the
theory and practice of teaching," was introduced by Mr.
Payne.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. RICHLEY, and to it
an amendment was moved by Mr. WELLS, endorsing the
suggestion of the Royal Commissioners, that there should
be a central examining body to test the qualifications of
schoolmasters.

The resolution and amendment provoked much discus-
sion. It was denied that the universities were bodies at
all adapted to the task of testing men in the " theory and
practice of education."
A very energetic discussion ensued. The result was
that a resolution was passed simply calling for " an ex-
amining body" having the confidence of the Dublic to
test the fitness of schoolmasters.

The Mount of Olives is now the property of the
Crown of France.

Baron Hock, one of the most enthusiastic sup-
porters of free trade in Austria, has just died at Vienna.

Mme. Patti has met with great success in the three
representations she has given in Brussels. With the various
sums she has realised a total of 68,000 francs.
Before leaving Stockholm the Prince of Wales
was made a Knight of the Freemasons of Charles XII-,
after having successively received the six inferior orders.
At a meeting of the Cooke Memorial Committee,
held on Monday in the Town-hall, Belfast, it was decided
that £20,000 should be raised—.£ls,ooo for an assembly hall
and £5,000 for a statue.
We understand that General the Hon. Sir Charles
Gore, G.C.8., K.IL, colonel of the 6th Foot, will succeed
to the post of lieutenant-governor of Chelsea Hospital,
vacant by the death of the late Field-Marshal Sir Hew
Dalrymple Ross.

Mr. Drew, of Havre, has suggested to Mr. Bright
that a small Royal bounty should bo offered to thoso who
undertake to clear the seas of bottle-nose whales and por-
poises, but Mr. Bright does not think that Parliament is
likely to approve of-the idea.

James Drummond, a calico printer at Kilmarnock,
endeaVoured to destroy his wife on New Year's-day by
throwing somo gunpowder into the fire. The unfortunate
woman was seriously burned, but is now recovering. Her
husband has been taken into custody, and is supposed to be
out of his mind.

The Echo hears on good authority, that the negc-
ciations between Mr. Studd and the Epsom Grand Stand
shareholders, with reference to what is now known as " tlu•
Derby difficulty," have come to an abrupt termination, and,
unless the stewards of
-the meeting interfere, there will be ne
Derby this year. The correspondence between the parties
will be published on Saturday.

'The Manchester City Council unanimously re-
solved, on Wednesday, to petition Parliament in favour of
the abolition of public nominations at Parliamen-
tary elections, and also of public declarations of the
poll. It is urged against the present system that it
involves " considerable expense," is " useless and in-
jurious," "tends to produce strife and ill-feeling," and "re-
sults frequently in most serious consequences." It is pro-
posed that nominations in writing, as at municipal elections,
should be substituted, "such guarantees and securities being
required as to expenses to be incurred as may be deemed
necessary."