226 Analogous uses capable of development. were devoted are strictly analogous to the wants of elementary Schools under their recent organization. The apprenticeship of Pupil Teachers to the Master or Mistress under the Minutes of 1846, would most usefully absorb a large part of those funds which were left for that apprenticeship of poor children, and especially of orphans, to trades, which has been found liable to much abuse. No machinery commonly exists in charities for the constant supervision required in a system of apprenticeship supported by endowments. Premiums are therefore taken by master tradesmen, who neglect or abuse their charge. But the apprenticeship of Pupil Teachers is not liable to these defects; for it is watched over by the School Committees, aided by the clergy and ministers of religion, and subjected to the constant vigilance of a public inspection, testing its results by periodical examinations, on the success of which its pro'longation depends. The funds left for the education of poor scholars at the Universities, and for the foundation of scholarships, form an admirable precedent for the foundation of exhibitions for the admission to the Training Colleges of Pupil Teachers, who successfully complete their apprenticeship, but do not gain Queen's Scholarships, and for their support during a second year of training. The endowments of certain hospitals by which a small fraternity of brethren, or sisters, according to an almost monastic tradition, is supported, were often constituted with such statutes, that they might become places, in which superannuated or otherwise incapacitated Masters or Mistresses might spend their latter days in comfort. The quaint almshouses grouped round the Gothic Chapel would attract a larger amount of public sympathy, if, by their statutes, they received chiefly those who had spent their strength in the public service, and especially in the education of youth. The morning and evening service and the visitations of the sick, might be performed by a brother, selected on ac Parliament has diverted Bequests from Education. 227 count of his exemplary life and peculiar qualifications, and ordained for that purpose. In cases in which, from the increased value of the landed property of a charity belonging to a small or thinly inhabited parish, it would be impossible to find strictly parochial objects to which to devote its funds, Parliament, on the Report of the Department, might enlarge the powers of the trustees, enabling them to aid other parishes in any of the preceding objects, or in building and endowing Schools. It could be shown that the interests of education, owing to the absence of a public department, have not been protected by a sufficient vigilance even in Parliament. For funds specially devoted to education, which have vastly increased beyond the peculiar and limited uses to which they were applicable by the original trusts, have been diverted to objects not even analogous to the intention of the testator. Though the original recipients of the revenues may have been benefited by this change in their appropriation, education has lost by far the larger part of a rich estate. Now it would be impossible to plead, in such cases, that there were no analogous uses to which such ample endowments were applicable, since the funds directed to be "paid1 and distributed to and amongst such four of the poor sort of batchellors of arts taken such degree," "as from time to time shall resolve to continue and reside" in College "by the space of four years after such degree taken," could now be appropriated most usefully to complete the education of poor scholars, either as Masters of Training Colleges, or for other similar purposes. 1 See Appendix No. 5. to the Report from Select Committee on Manchester and Salford Education, pp. 476-485.; likewise evidence of A. Kay, Esq., from 395-399. CHAP. V. THE AUGMENTATION OF THE INCOME OF SCHOOLS CONNECTED WITH THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNIONS. 2. The Income derived from Subscriptions, Collections, and School Pence. AN improved administration of charitable trusts will obtain an additional income of at least 200,000l. per annum for Elementary Schools, and will thus provide that augmentation of existing local endowments and other sources of income required for the sufficient education of 1,836,562 scholars, by the Religious Communions. But for this great result, the income now derived from local subscriptions, collections, and School pence must also be enlarged from 875,9777., its present estimated amount, to 2,435,9007.; or, in other words, an additional income must be raised, from these or other sources, of 1,559,9231. per annum.1 It will be convenient to consider the means of developing the amount derived from local subscriptions and collections, separately from that of augmenting the sum obtained from School pence. But, before proceeding to this inquiry, it is desirable to recapitulate certain of the conclusions arrived at by the argument pursued in the third chapter. It has been estimated that 2,185,000l. must be expended on the erection or enlargement of Church of England Schools, to enable them to provide education for 1,531,350 scholars. Moreover, as far as the census may show that the 1 See Table, p. 155., ante. See p. 153., ante. Additional School income required from Subscriptions. 229 323,784 children1, not now educated in the Schools of the Religious Communions, or in workhouse or penal Schools, do not belong to the middle and upper classes of society, but require to be absorbed into these Schools, the total sum, required to be expended on School buildings and on the support of Elementary Schools, would have to be augmented. The greater part of the charge for the erection of new School buildings would fall upon local subscriptions and collections, provided no aid were granted from the public resources. This fact, therefore, must be kept in view in examining the power of those two sources of income, and of the School pence contributed by the working classes, to raise an additional annual revenue of 1,559,923l., or more. The additional annual resources required for the education of 1,836,562 scholars from local subscriptions and collections, were estimated to be 727,8917. for Church of England Schools, and 96,1737. for the Schools of separate communions.2 The present annual income from these two sources, for Church of England Schools was calculated at 382,3371., and for the Schools of other Communions at 80,5961. The 462,9337. now raised by local subscriptions and collections for the support of Schools is independent, for the most part, of the incomes of the National, British and Foreign, and Home and Colonial School Societies, of the Wesleyan Education Committee, the Congregational Board, the Roman Catholic Poor School Committee, and the Ragged School Union. These Societies chiefly expend their resources in aiding local subscriptions for the erection of School buildings; on inspec See p. 154., ante. 60,000 children now in Pauper and Penal Schools are deducted from 383,784, leaving 323,784. 3 See p. 165., ante. 1 See p. 155., ante. 230 66,3961. annually raised by Societies, &c. tion; in grants of School materials; and in supporting the central Training Colleges, and the Model Schools in immediate connexion with them. Their annual income is about as follows: National Society: Average annual income from Queen's Letter1 £9,300 The Diocesan Boards of Education 2: Home and Colonial School Society: Subscriptions, donations, School pence 9,000 £18,300 20,000 10,000 collections, and 2,840 Repaid by students for board, &c. By reference to the table in page 71. it will be found that 36,6087., which forms part of the income of these Boards of Education, was expended on the support of the Training Colleges enumerated therein. But this table contains no return from the Training Schools of Durham, Carnarvon, East Brent, Brighton, Cornwall, 1 The triennial Queen's Letters from 1837 to 1852 collected, for the 15 years, 139,4957., or at the rate of nearly 9300l. annually. 2 I state this on the authority of the Church Education Directory (p. 4.), which is edited by gentlemen who have the best means of information. Sold at National Society's Depository. 3 The British and Foreign School Society also derive from the sale of the Society's publications a sum of 5000l.; but this is not included in the income of the Society, because an almost equivalent sum is paid for the purchase of these publications under the head of School Materials. ↑ About the average of 1851 and 1852, excluding receipts from Government. |