The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-17

IHE DECADBNCE OF RUGBY SCHOoL.-As
as instance OF how utterly dependent a school,
and particularly an English school, generally
is on the force of single man, one has only
to look at the downfall OF Rugby. need not
inform people so familiar as Americans with
tom Brown at Rugby" what the late Ds.
Arnold did for Rugby. BY his personal char
acter, his eloquence, his tact, the old school
blossomed-like Aaron's rod among the other
schools OF England. Many of the old and
barbarous usages, as hazng, fell into happy
desuetude among the boys, and Rugbslans
were everywhere In repAte. When Arnold
died the school began to fail a little, but IL
was reinforced by DR.. Temple, who had not
the exquisite art Of Arnold In dealing with
the young, but being liberal, earnest, and an
ardent follower OF Arnold, under whom he
had been trained, managed to Keep the school
at least pre- eminent over all others in Eng
land for scholarship and morality. When
Gladstone appointed Dr. Temple to be Bishop
Of Exeter the Puseytes began to banker after
the control OF Rugby. Ii was complained By
them that the Rationalists Of the Broad
church bad come to look upon Rugby as Their
private preserve, and they insisted on getting
possession of the school. 1t turned out that
on the board OF trustees, with whom rested
the election of head master, a considerable
number were high churchmen, others evan
gelical, and decided majority simpletons; so
they elected one Hayman, man utterly un-
known; man who was found afterw ward to
have laid before the trustees recommendation
gwen to him many years before, by some en-
inent personages, for some small position in g
little school, as II they had been given for
Rugby. BY SO using certificates for purpose
never contemplated BY those who gave them.
Hay man was elected. When the deception
was discovered there was . CRY of indig-
ration, but Hayman chung to his post.
When he arrived at Rugby he was found to
be such BOBBY that the under-masters and
students held him in utter contempt. Things
went on from bad TO worse. Hayman turned
out the two teachers, who alone preserved
anything o! the old character of the school.
The students were angry; there was o fsbcll-
iona rebellion that amounted one day 70 q
regular battle with fists. The trustees met
and found that of the two under. teachers
whom Hayman had dismissed, they had only
the legal power to restore one. Him they re-
stored. Thus, having elected a head master
On sectarian basis, they were compelled
within few months, TO repudiate his princi-
pal action. Rugby was thus given over to q
chronic antagonism between head master and
teachers. 1t is now universally understood
that Hayman IS pig-headod, and ire best boys
are being Withdrawn daily from the school,
which is ruined. The gentle force with
which Arnold and Temple ruled having been
withdrawn, we now learn that corporal pun
ishment is being used upon the boys; and, as
one barbarian begets another, the boys are
beginning 10 be ruffians, TOO. One of them has
| just written to London paper in defense Of
| the practice which now prevails there under
| the name ofthe "sxth-lickings." When boy
| does anything which the other boys disap-
prove, but which cannot be revealed to tho
masters, they take him into room where he
Is clicked" by the Sixth form. This the in
genuous Rugbeian defends. But "a collection
of boys sometimes has such curious moral
ideas, and the ollense they dare not tell the
master is so often what older people would
call virtue, that one cannot think of the
"sixth-hckiugs" with satisfaction. But some
such barbarisms as these linger in all schools
where the Infamous practice of fogging Is
| preserved to exc out the incompetence OF
teachers. The experience OF ruined Rugby is
only peculiar as showing how utterly and cas-
lily an English school collapses when iis down.
ward tendency 10 not countsraeted by soma
| extraordinary man. And ~ Arnolds are not
TO be got every day,it is important that al
least none Of the hereditary evils Of the Eng
lsh colleges and schools shall be copied 10
weigh upon the energies that may be com.
manded in America.-M. ID. COnWay.