The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-05-03 00:00:00

PUBLIC EDUCATION.

(From the Manchester Guardian.)
We have just received the copy of a parliamentary docu-
ment, which, so far as we know, has not yet been published
in any of the papers, and to which we have great pleasure in
calling the attention of our readers, viz. the minutes of the
proceedings of the committee of privy council appointed to
superintend the application of such sums as may be voted by
parliament for the purpose of promoting the education of the
labouring classes ; containing the scheme which, subject to
such alterations as experience may hereafter suggest, has been
approved of and adopted by the committee. It is as follows :
..

^"NOIiMAL SCHOOL.

To found a school, in which candidates for the office of
teacher in schools for the poorer classes may acquire the
knowledge necessary to the exercise of their future profession,
and may be practised in the most approved methods of religi-
ous and moral training and instruction.

MODEL SCHOOL.

This school to include a model school, in which children
of all ages, from three to fourteen, may be taught and trained,
in sufficient numbers to form an infant school, as well as
schools for children above seven.

Religious instruction to be considered as general and
special.
Religion to be combined with the whole matter of instruc-
tion, and to regulate the entire system of discipline.
Periods to be set apart for such peculiar doctrinal instruc-
tion as may be required for the religious training of Oe chil-
dren.

To appoint a chaplain to conduct the religious instruction
of children whose parents or guardians belong to the esta-
blished church.

The parent or natural guardian of any other child to be
permitted to secure the attendance of the licensed minister
of his own persuasion, at the period appointed for special re-
ligious instruction, in order to give such instruction apart.
To appoint a licensed minister to give such special religious
instruction wherever the number of children in attendance
on the model school belonging to any religious body dissenting
from the established church, is such as to appear to this com-
mittee to require such special provision. _

A portion of every (11;5* to be devoted to the reading of the
Scriptures in the school, uqder the general direction of the
committee, and superintendence of the rector. Roman ca-
tholics, if their parents or guardians require it, to read their
own version of the Scriptures, either at the time fixed for
reading the Scriptures, or at the hours of special instruction.
To arrange the classes in separate rooms, or sections of the
same apartment, divided by partitions, so as to enable the
simultaneous method to be applied to 40 or 50—children of
similar proficiency.
To adopt means to assemble a greater number of children
for simultaneous instruction on subjects not so technical as
to require a division into classes of 50.
To include instruction in industry as a special department
of moral training of the children.
To give such a character to the matter of instruction in
the school as to keep it in close relation with the condition
of workmen and servants.

Besides the physical training of the children in various
employments, to introduce such exercises, during the hours
of recreation, as will develope their strength and activity.
To render the moral training of the children at all times
an object of special solicitude.