The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-28
PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN GREAT BRIfAIN

summer at Liverpool and Glasgow were mainly
occupied in study OF the results OF the Educa-
ton act OF 1870 Their reports, now published
supply some interesting details regarding the
progress of elementary education in the several
parts Of the United Kingdom.
AT the time Of the Parliamentary inquiry, con-
cluded in 1869. the number of primary estab.
lishments subject to official inspection in Eng
land fell short Of s 900. and the entire quota OF
pupils registered did not exceed million and
n quarter. At the same epoch there were In
Ireland about $500 national schools with rather
more than 100000 scholars ON the lists. although
the actual attendance was only third OF the
nominal total. On the other hand. the state OF
things in Scotland was found TO DO emnently
satisfactory. for here an old law compelled
every parish to maintain a public school. and
accordingly vast majority OF Scottish children
were able TO read and write. while the poorer
Glasses Of England and Wales were sunk in
Ignorance At that time. howevcr-and we are
speaking Of a date no more remote than seven
years ago-the aggregate expenditure Of the
United Kingdom for elementary instruction.
including State local. and private aid. as well
Ms the fees paid by pupils did not reach
tlO.OOO.OOO; was less. in other words. than the
sum devoted to the same purpose BY the single
State of New York.
There is no doubt that tremendous change
was wrought by the Education act of 1870, and
its fruits have been especially signalzed during
the last twelvemonth The law provided that
each locality should have means Of education
adequate for the whole body OF children OF
school age. No pupil. however, could bc Obliged
to receive religious instruction or take part in
religious exercises against tho wish Of his pa
rents. The Educational Committee OF the Privy
Council was empowered TO cause the election in
each district OF a School Board. whose authori-
ty is very broad Chosen by all those who pay
direct impost-and women are expressly
made electors and eligible to ofllce-this board
determines the local regulations fixes the school
age. makes attendance compulsory or voluntary.
at its option. and can establish penalties for
non appearance; provided however. these are
not enforced until after the parents in default
have received an admonition. 1t appoints the
teachers. and insurcs proper supervision by
means Of special delegates. Each board can
make the schools under its control entirely gra-
tltOus or settle the fees. from payment Of
which it may excuse the poor II is also au-
thorized TO hire buy. or build school houses
and. to that end. may acquire land; and. finally.
1t may levy taxes and contract loans for the or
ganization and maintenance of public instruc-
ton. The conditions upon which State aid
would be furnished to n given district were laid
down in the Education code enacted in 1872.
and all previous legislation on tho subject was
con srn,od in tho following vaor
s,.h IL ,I,, s,s,o,, which IL moo, In o,,oro,i,.
throughout the United Kingdom. The results
can be succinctly stated. The number OF pri-
mary schools in the island Of Great Britain is
now 10000 and the number Of pupils two and
half millions. In Ireland tn. imnrovement has
been loss markell vet IN. nunbor NJ schools
has hoen Increased bv obou, one Thousand ana
NOR. thnn n million nu,,ils ,ra rogistar,J In
rn,lond and Wales tbe nun,horor s.loolhn,r1.
il NOT far from n thousand and ,h.ir animal
rev.nues ,onsid.rahl, nxca,d tan million AL
lars They haye largely avoilnd tL.r.elves ~
the right 10 contract delhi. and the sums loaned
H. five hunJred amon, them a,,prcgat, t,v,ntv.
nve million dollars Theee n,,nr,s .t,e., tho
n.,,pitu,l. ~ the fr,r,s which nov, lot,tv b.o,
NM forth in ENGLAND On h.haf ~ ol.men,arv
ir.,,u.,ior Mich hou,,,,,. ,.,o,ins :, ~,
dn,a III noin,.1 or, h,, Mai, p.,,ia,, "a
TOR of Lincoln colla,e Oxford Tim, tho n,,n,hsr
~ children Of .cbo,l oge 4, f;r.o, nr,ain oI,no
il no, loss than fourmillions A,loost n million
and n ,nort,r ~ tI,, school rorul,,io, sin 80.
mains uunrovi1,I for and f. his Gray. sh.,rt-
coming mus, be added the imuerfect workings
Of the system in Ireland How TO secure fur
tucr progress Is one oil the questions most
earnestly discussed at present in the English
press; and it is plain that strong current Of
opinion layors the plan OF Compulsory eduea-
ton.
Under the existing law. as we have noted the
regulation Of attendance is left to the local
board. 1t appears that. so far loss than Ave
per cent. OF the whole population are living
under compulsory school regime while the
scheme has been applied TO rather more than
eight per cent. OF the inhabitants Of boroughs
As yet. we believe. the compulsory plan has
never been tried in Ireland. Most Of the speak
ers at Liverpool and Glasgow affirmed that
nothing but coerciye legislation could place
that country on the footing Of the sister king
dom as regards popular instruction. We need
proval OF many leading statesmen, notwth-
shhuihg the remarAaole extension given oil
la'o yoais " tne Heiu Vi PARLIAMENTARY inVcr-