The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-10
ENGLISH COMMON SCHOOLS
Still Far Behind America, but Making
Great Educational Advances.
The System of Public School Education as Ad-
ministered in England-Experiencs with
Compulsory Attendance Unsatisfactory.
of tn. indianapolis. Journal.

LONDON, Sept !, 1S68.-An interesting study
to the thoughtful visitor from the United States
is the English eommon.school system. The
facts cleaned are not entirely Satisfactory when
this country is compared to Others but when
contrssied with her own former self the progress
shown becomes ereditabls in the extreme. She
Is still very far behind our own land in these
matters. and is considerably dstAncsd by some
OF the European nations. Paris with less than
half the population, expends annually for sdu-
cation more than twice the amount
paid out for this purpose by London, and
the showing for the two nations as
whole is little different whilst between Germany
and England comparisons would be still more
odious for the mother country. But the situ-
alton here has greatly improved in recent years,
both in the metropolis and in the nation at
large, and if discontent with present achieve
nents aud ceaseless agitation for what is beyond
are reliable omsns of progress, we may certain
ly expect wonderful things ia the immediate
future.
The elementary schools act which has done
90 much TO open the avenue of knowledge to the
children Of the common people. was passed in
1870, it's protector being the late W. E. Forster.
The system is administered by q committee Of
her Majesty's most excellent Privy Council,
the principal members being the Lord President
OF the Council. who is always Cabinet Minis
ter, and vics-president of the committee, who
IS always member of the House of Commons,
but generally not member Of the Cabinet,
officials who, Of course, are changed as the
government CHANCES Lord era nbrook 10 presi-
dent At this time, with Sir ". Hart Dyke, NJ.
p, to do all the work viee-president
One Of the chief features Of the act of 1870
was that Il proposed 10 supplement the already
existing voluntary schools by board schools
The latter were not to supplant the former, nor
20 interfere with them in any way; they were to
be brought into existen &c only In districts whore
voluntary schools were either not IN operation
or were not meeting the public wants. With
this provision for additional schools. a compul-
sorry educational law was enacted, aud the gov
eminent sought to stimulate the new machinery
by appointing inspectors and promising a large
grant of money. That this arrangement result
ed In bringing under tuition large numbers
who formerly were left to grow mp
without this discipline Is amply shown
by the fact that, whilst at the time
the act was passed there were but q million aud
three-qaartsrs Of children on the school regis
ters there Is now total registration Of 4, $780,
BOZ. with average attendance OF over three
and-a-half millions In some years children have
entered the schools a. double the rate OF the in
crease of population, and necessarily this In
crease In pupils has called for correspo ndug
addition to the staff Of teachers. Equally
marked, too. has been the increase in the gov
eminent grant. 10 1869 the amount given by
Parliament TO aid elementary schools IN England
aud Wales was 81, lS4, GOO. whereas last year il
gave over SIC 900, 000
This amount is Distributed on equal terms TO
both voluntary and board schools The govern
ment inspectors examine the scholars and the
money is given on the basis of their report. Be-
sides general grant for proficiency in the three
Rs there are special grants for special subjects.
In the three Rs the average per cent 10 ascer-
tanned, and the school gets penny 1.-TWO
cenrsl for every unit or that per cent, multi
oiled by the number of the average in attend
ance Thus, il the average per cent. is 90, aud
abe average atten dance 150, the sum secured is
$50 times 80 pence, which would be $40 This
goes toward the payment Of the expense Of the
school, and the teachers are driven to keep both
the average attendance and the average
per cent OF the examin As high as
possible oy the fact that usually this grant or .
portion Of IL. goes into their pockets in part
payment OF their salaries. What may be needed
Tor she latter purpose beyond the amount de-
ylved from this source, aud from the fees paid
By scholars. 10 raised, in the case Of board
Bchools, BY local rates. and, In the case of vol.
untary schools by private or UNCONVENTIONAL
benevolsnce. Catholic schools, IL 10 worth not
Inc, share equally in this grant with both board
schools and those conducted By the Protestant
shurches In the 9l2 Catholic schools there are
lis, $50 children, and their grant last year was
fs32, 200. The 554 Wesleyan schools have in at
tendance 129, 27l pupils and get for these $6l5,-
595 while the Church OF England schools num-
Der IL ,S79, with attendance of p 6l.6S5, and
m appropriation last year Of over seven million
dollars. the remainder of both scholars and
grant falling amongst the other denomin atoms
and the board schools. the bulk, OF course, going
20 the latter.
The average salary paid to teachers in Englapd
and Wales is about $500. Some few receive as
high as e, 500, and some again get only about
$3.50 Thers are in these English schools large
numbers Of what are called pupil teachers, whose
pay u . mere trife. These young persons
who begin at fourteen to serve an apprenticeship
or four years, with view TO finally making full
fedged teachers Of themselves. Their term OF
apprenticeship passed, they are eligible for the
post OF assistant master or mistress 10 some
school, and by further study may soon get .
certificate But the more regular way 10 to
spend two years at the close Of their pupil teach
ership in one OF the training colleges, of which
the country affords forty 1.-TWO, with an accommo-
Iation fer l.46l males and 1.S44 females. Once
having a diploma or certificate, the English
teacher is exempt from that nightmare OF Amer
fcan teachers, the periodical examination, his
future standing being determined by the quality
IF the work he does in the school.
No provision was made in the act OF 1870 for
9eigious teaching in the schools. Local mana
gers are left to their own discretion in this mat
ter. The act stipulates, however, that where
religious instruction is given it shall not infringe
on the regular school hours or be compulsory
upon the children. Those who do not wish such
instruction may stay away without detriment
TO their standing in the school, or, should they
choose to be present, the teacher must provide
them with secular instruction apart from those
xecsivine religious instruction at the time.
This Is called tho conscience clause" and
any infraction thereof would be punished By
Withdrawal of the grant of money. It il, how
ever. striking illustration OF the religious
tendencies of this people that there 10. perhaps,
not single school in the whole of England Ia
which religion does not receive some formal
recognition. In the vast majority it is made
the subject OF systematic teaching; in the others
Bible reading, or prayer. or both, with sacred
Singing invariably added. constitute the opening
exercises of the morning session.
An important feature of the system Is that IL
makes attendance compulsory. This applies 70
ell children between five aud thirteen who re-
Bide within two miles of a school-house, though
schild who has attended regularly and has passed
the fourth standard "a exempt from this law at
Ten years of age. To pass the fourth standard
the pupil must write piece OF dictat!on, read
with ease aud expression and be able to do sums
In compound rules. including weights and meas
ures Absentees are reported by the teacher to
the board, and that body through its attendance
officer, investigates the case. If no valid excuse
b. found and the parents refuse TO heed friendly
edmonton, they must answer to the magistrate.
who upon first complaint, merely 10 axes an
order that the child be at once seut to school
ard kept there, but who, on subsequent CON-
plants, intiicts fine or five shilliuRs. In the
case OF person summoned for giving employ
ment TO a child Of school age the inc is So
This compulsory feature Of the English school
Dystem was not the unmixsd blessing il Was ex-