These are

large Windsor chairs, blackboard and easel. curiously suggestive of the disproportion in size between teachers and taught! Around the walls, under glass, are specimens of work by the children of the various schools belonging to the Society, whilst a higher line is occupied by the work of students from the Cheltenham College and Maria Grey Kindergartens, the illustrations of a story (the Jungle Book ') and of a lesson (on the silkworm) from the latter being distinctly original and good. In a glass case are good examples of clay modelling from Norland Place School; cardboard models from Stockwell; cane-weaving and other things from the Froebel Institute. Portraits of Pestalozzi and the late Miss Shirreff and a medallion portrait of Frederick Froebel dominate the exhibit which is the outcome of their teaching.

Physical Training, the Teachers' Guild, the National Home Reading Union,3 and Parents' National Education Union are all represented in the Education Section, but space does not admit of detailed notice.

Type-writing is shown in a new and interesting way in the framed exhibit of Miss Gradwell's School of Business, in the form of an indenture, a balance sheet, estate accounts, and syllabus of the lectures given in the course of training.

Mr. Edward Arnold shows a number of beautiful

Illustrations for Object Lessons in schools, many of which are designed by women.

Last in order, though perhaps first in importance, comes Primary Education as represented by the School Board for London. In looking at the work sent by the 3 Ibid. p. 171.

'Handbook, p. 165. ⚫ Ibid. p. 170.

2 Ibid. pp. 167, 168.

Progress in Education, p. 187. Facts for Women.

Board no impartial observer can fail to be struck with the fact that compulsory education has had a humanising effect upon the vast multitude of children who throng our streets and alleys, and who are daily growing up to become the future citizens of the vast Metropolis. The excellent exhibit of needlework and knitting (essentially a girl's occupation), including as far as possible every kind of garment in use for ordinary wear, the paintings from copies, shading from models, adapted designs and painting from Nature, all speak for themselves, well and eloquently, of the result of regularity and discipline; whilst an impressive object lesson is shown in the pictures of Clerkenwell Prison having been converted into the Hugh Myddelton Board School. This historic spot in London has seen many changes since the twelfth century, when the Benedictine Nunnery of 'Our Lady' occupied the site of the prison, and the Clarke's Well' was hard by; but none are more significant than the changes brought about by the systematic education, which is one of the greatest characteristics and products of the Victorian era.

EDITH BRADLEY.

27

PAPERS READ AT SATURDAY CONFERENCES AND CONGRESS

I. EDUCATION OF CHILDREN

The Work of the London School Board

THE Chairman (Mr. J. R. Diggle) having introduced the Rev. A. W. Jephson, he gave the following lecture, which was fully illustrated with lantern slides. There was no discussion, as it was followed immediately by a demonstration lesson in needlework given by senior girls and infants.

Miss Loch, Examiner of Needlework, had arranged this with great care, and much interest was taken in the lesson by the audience.

There are in London 826,371 children of school age. Of these 255,000 are educated in non-Board schools (Church, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, A.W. and British), and the others, 500,000,' are M.A., under the care of the Board.2

Rev.

Jephson,

M.L.S.B. The School Board is responsible for the attendance of all children, no matter what school they may attend, and employs 363 visitors, at a cost of 45,000l., to get the children into school. After all this

1 See article on Primary Education, by Mr. Frederick Davies, in Handbook to Education Section, pp. 117–129.

2 Official Returns. Number of children on the Roll for the year ending Lady Day 1897 was 520,877.

effort and expenditure only 81 per cent. of the children attend-that is to say, there are 100,000 boys and girls away from school every time the schools open. London parents have to learn a great deal yet before our children rival Scotch children in the matter of education.

The number of children increases in London with a regularity which is astonishing. At least 12,000 additional children are each year added to the population. To cope with this great increase the Board has erected 403 permanent schools, which would average 1,000 each school. There are 33 temporary schools, and upwards of 58,000 fresh school-places' in preparation.

2

To teach these children there are over 9,000 teachers, all highly trained and qualified--men and women with degrees, diplomas, and qualifications of all kinds. The average salary paid to a head teacher is 2317.; the average salary to an assistant, 1087.

To manage this vast machinery, and to control this huge army of workers, a Board consisting of a chairman and 55 elected members, with a chief clerk and over 200 subordinate clerks, transacts its business in the spacious building lately erected on the Embankment. It contains 193 rooms, and in front stands the statue of W. E. Forster, the father of popular education.

By school-places' is meant accommodation for school children. 2 Official Returns:

When the Queen came to the throne 44 per cent. of the population were illiterate; now only 7 per cent. can be so described. For every million inhabitants in 1837, 1,240 were convicted; in 1896 only 333 persons per 1,000,000 were convicted. Illegitimate. births were 67 per 1,000 then, while now the rate is 43 per 1,000. In the early years of the reign there were 48 paupers out of every 1,000 inhabitants; last year there were but 26.2 In 1850 only 39 people in every 1,000 deposited money in the Savings Bank; now 203 people take advantage of that useful institution. The fifty-five elected members comprise Noblemen, Officers in the Army, Militia, Yeomanry, Clergymen and Ministers, Solicitors, Barristers, Merchants, Schoolmasters, Gentlemen and Ladies without other occupation, a University Extension Lecturer, and a working man.

Happily the code which the Board has to administer is laid down by the Education Department.3 The children are taught reading, writing, arithmetic. and vocal music, with drawing and woodcarving for the boys, and needlework, cookery, and laundry for the girls; all have to take up physical exercises. This practically comprises the whole of the subjects taught. There are twenty other subjects down on the Code called specifics, but less than 38,000 children out of our 500,000 take them, and therefore they may be passed over with a word.

The pupil-teachers' centres," where likely young people and children are taught how to teach and what

1 Handbook, p. 16.

2 See p. 33 The Pauper Child,' by Mrs. Barnett.

3 Handbook, p. 120.

Ibid. p. 121.

Ibid. p. 127; and Progress in Women's Education, p. 291.