Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-29

NATIONAL SCHOOLS OF lRELAND.-A pleas
ant hour was spent by portion of the teach
ers of the public schools of the city, on Sat
urday, in listening to an account of the Ma
tional Schools of Ireland, by Rev. Mr.. Cor
lett, of East Cleveland, who spent some time
last year in visiting the United Kingdom
He stated that there is a strong and growing
feeling in Ireland and England in favor of
popular and general education. The subject
is being discussed in Parliament, and among
all classes. Il Is becoming eyiGent that the
masses must be educated for the different
walks of life, and the national or free schools
are well calculated to supply this want
These schools are like our graded schools,
and are supported by the Government The
buildings compare well with those of this
country. Ali departments are attended to-
singing, instrumental music, sewing and
ornamental work are taught as regularly as
text books.
In Ireland, GOO miles long by 1876 brOad),
there are Is, 800 square miles, inhabited by
eight or nine millions of people, about $780,,
600 of whom are Protestant. There are
$50, 900 children, three-fourthssof whom are
Roman Catholics. The Catholics and Pro-
testants are all united in the schools in the
secular department, and all have an equal
attention. In religious matters, the clergy
men of the cities are invited to 60 to the
schools to give religious instruction, and the
scholars choose for themselves, (or their pa
rents for them), whether they will have a
Roman Catholic or a Protestant teacher
This religious instruction is given once a
week, one hour at a time. So that all sects
are combined in the schools without conflict
ing. This state of things, however, has
given rise to complaints from both the Cath
olics and the English Government. From
the former, because as the children become
enlightened and educated with the Protest
ants, they begin to inquire the why and the
wherefore of various matters, and to demand
explanations. The Catholics are now solicit
ing the Government to establish schools fol
Roman Catholics alone. The objection on
the part of the Government is that as the
children are instructed and enlightened
they are less obedient and submissive than
before to the higher classes.
To support the National Schools of ireland
requires an annual expenditure of 81, ,25O, 900
the average pay of teachers being ten Eng
lish shillings per week. 1t England it re
quires "a OOO, 900 to educate their s21 900 chill
dren, the teachers being paid about ont
pound sterling per week.
The National High School of Dublin is sit
uated in the heart of the city, and has tn
finest grounds there except Phoenix Park
A great deal of attention is paid to physica
training, emple provision being made 70
f gymnastic exercises, games, &C., in the larg
: play ground. There are here 1900 children
taught by 80 teachers. Special attention
: given to the normal department, wher
teachers are trained. There is also farm G
: acres connected with the school, wher
: persons are educated for farming and garden
ing. There are 5000 National Schools il
Ireland, for the education of the commo
people. The people are rising in intelli
gence and becoming more democratic, th
schools and the regard for education actin
as great leYeler Of caste.