Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-03
SCHOOLS In ENGLAND.
As They Are Contrasled With Those
in the Emerald Isle.
THE DUTIES OF THE INSPECTORS
Reading of the Bible Relegated to Denom-
national Schools.
A SYSTEM THAT SHOWS UP WE'LL
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArCH.I

day, February 10, you nave an article on
. SCHOOLS in Ireland" written by person
who seems to know something Of the educa-
tlonal system of that country, and who en-
deavors to show that the public school sys-
TEN there is far below or much inferior to
that of the public school system of the
q nited States. Not having resided in the
E merald Isle, and not having studied the
Irish school system, therefore cannot gain
say any thing j. II. Leonard asserts in his
article; but some of his assertions appear to
me 10 be somewhat misleading.
For instance, he says the District In
spector visits the schools once year only to
noie the average attendance, on which he
only duty an inspector of schools in Ireland
has to perform, cannot see why the in
spectors should be university men, or men
who have passed examination in advanced
English studies. Any person of ordinary
intelligence might be able to examine school
registers and report the average attendance
to the "Board of Education"
The Schools of Great Britain.
But L am wandering from my subject.
Public schools in Great Britain are vari-
ously named. Some are termed Board
schools, others Nationol, others British,
others Wesleyan, others Roman Catholic.
Free Church, etc. A boy or girl is at
liberty to attend any public elementary
school in his or her district, by paying the
weekly fee, which amounts to from 2 cents
to II cents. per week, according to the stand
ard or step the pupil may be in. Besides
this weekly fee, the pupils have to provide
themselves with books, states, etc., at their
own expense.
In quite number of schools everything
in the shape of books and states is provided
free; the only things the pupils have to pro-
vide where this obtains are pencils and e1-
ercise books. 1 may here add that the read
ing of the Bible and the teaching of Cate
chism is resorted to in denominational
schools, that is, schools conducted by Wes-
leyans, Episcopals, Catholics, etc., but
every parent has the right to withdraw his
child from such instruction if he has any
objections to it. The law on the point is
very plain, and is hung on the walls of
every school receiving Government grants
in money. 1t is termed the conscience
clause. The religious instruction given in
any public elementary school in Great
Britain must he given either at the COM
mencement of the days studies or at the
close.
The Course of Studies.
The subjects of instruction in these schools
are: Reading, writing and arithmetic
termed the three RS; geography, grammar,
history, singing, and, besides these, they can
give instruction in one or two OF the follow
ing subjects: Botany, physiology, mathe-
matics, physical geography, mechanics,
French, German and Latin. These latter
subjects were termed special.
Children under years were termed in
fants, and attended what was termed the SIN
fant school" while those overt attended the
boys; girls or mixed school the latter being
composed of both boys and girls. In boys,
girls or miIei schools it was not COM
pulsory to teach anything but the three Rs,
but even in small country schools, where
there were only from 40 to 60 pupils, the
teachers were never satisfied with merely
teaching the three RS, singing, geography,
grammar and English or Scottish history be-
ing taught in addition.
How They Are Inspected.
All these public elementary schools were
visited once every year at least by
the much-dreaded and majestic
Inspector of Schools and his assistants, for
the purpose ofe1amining the pupils in their
studies for the year. Some teachers thought
the inspectors remained too long in thIer
schools, and others were under the impress
sion they were too eager to get away from
the school. must say here that the amount
of money granted by the Government to
each school depended entirely upon the re-
port which the School Inspector submitted
to the Education Department.
This grant of money by the Education
Department did not depend solely on the
average attendance of the pupils for the
wear, but also on their proficiency in the
3 Rs, singing, history, grammar, geography,
discipline of pupils and general tone of the
schools. A certain sum was paid per head
for average attendance, and a certain sum
for passing satisfactorily in each subject eI-
amined. In a school of 300 pupils, the
grant of money from the Educational De-
partment would reach 81, 200 or ST. 500, and
the school fees would amount to 81, 200 or
81, 300.
Private Subscriptions Help.
In country places, if these monies were
not sufficient, to meet the expenses of the
schools, then private persons paid subscrip-
tions yearly to make up the deficiency. At
tendance at school is compulsory in Great
Britain, and officers are employed in every
School Board District 10 whip in the irregu-
ar attenders. Many parents have 10 appear |
before the police magistrate ties and answer for |
he irregular attendance of their children,
Ind many have to paw fines, which would |
paw quarters school fees. High schools |
ire esta aDlished in most of the large towns in |
Great Britain, where pupils who have |
passed a certain standard or step, NAV re-
.eive instruction in the higher branches of |
heir studies. by paying very small fee
lot more than they paid in the lower school.
Those whose parents are too poor to pay
chool fees can have their fees remitted by
he Poor Law Board" by attending and
tating their case. In large towns there are
chools (free) to the poorest boys and girls,
md should persons coming to this country
xhibit any signs of illiteracy, do not
hink it is or lack of educational facilities
n Great Britain.
Duties of Inspectors.
School Inspectors in Great Britain act in a
imilar capacity to your county or city
superintendent" in this country. They sor
heir assistant must pay one official visit to
ach school in their district and report on
be same to the Education Department every
ear. Besides this visit, which might be
ermed the examination visit" the In
pector may drop into a school at any time,
nd should he find that the school work was
ot being properly conducted. he would re-
ort accordingly to the Education Depart
,ent, and also to the school managers or
irectors.
If, when paying this unexpected visit to
school, he should find any errors in the
larking Of the school registers, the head
,aster, or principal of the school, would be
able to lose his certificate as teacher, and
e dismissed from the mastership of said
chool. 1 have here used the term ''unex-
ected visit" TO distinguish it from his sex
visit" The school managers and
,achers are always notified of the examna-
on visit, but never of his secret or unex-
ected visit .