female training school) to be the most actively engaged official in the place. According to the Rules, she is charged "(under the supervision of the managers and the clerical principal) with the direction and control of the secular instruction of the inmates, and with their general training in good domestic, moral, and religious habits; she is constantly to bear in mind the peculiar office for which her young people are destined; and will adopt such methods of instruction and teaching as may tend to fit them to become the teachers of others." Duties like these demand attainments, insight into character, adroitness, adaptation, sympathies, judgment, firmness, prompt resources, moulded with a felicity of temper into a consistency asked for now in all directions, but rarely at present to be met with. And surely superintendence such as this may claim its market value like any other commodity; like every other it may rise and fall; but I do not believe that the last quotation for a competent holder of so very responsible an office is 607. a year with rooms and commons. A lady really qualified in mind and disposition for so onerous a charge could soon and easily secure an engagement of much more adequate remuneration, which it is hardly to be expected that she should for long forego; and what can embarrass progress more than frequent change of government? An assistant mistress too is wanted in the institution. As my inspection did not extend to the Clergy Orphan School, I can hazard no conjecture as to the manner or extent to which some portion of the studies of the two might be amalgamated, and so the labours of the clerical principal and organizing master (whose duties extend to both establishments) be economized. I cannot, therefore, venture upon any suggestion as to the relation between the salaries and employments of those gentlemen respectively, even if in any case it might have been permitted me to do so. But I believe that the managers would not object to my hinting that 1007. a-year, with board, &c., would be the lowest salary likely to secure a competent and permanent head mistress; and that a second mistress ought to be engaged at a salary of not less than 807. a-year, with the same perquisites. These, together with the clerical principal and organizing master, would be a competent staff for 50 students. Whether these students, being admitted on a more stringent application of the letter of the programme as to preliminary qualification, and by probable consequence being enlisted from a class one degree more elevated in social and domestic condition, might not pay 207. a-year instead of 157. a-year, is a matter for the consideration of the managers. Whether these improvements, or any of them, with others, which at Warrington were freely discussed and frankly acquiesced in, have been realized-(as I know they have been in VOL. II. 3 D agitation)-I am not informed. If not, it might be well that they who are responsible should seek and act upon some other and more competent suggestions how their institution shall be best forwarded into a condition of efficiency the most satisfactory that may be attainable against the time of expired apprenticeships, when they will perhaps claim the reception of Queen's scholars, with their concomitant advantages. But if, as I heartily hope, the sympathy and help of the Diocesan Community has been at all co-ordinate with the honest purpose, the vigorous endeavour, and the pastoral anxiety of the honourable Secretary, then I am sure that the Warrington training-school is on the way to fulfil those cordial wishes for its prosperity, and the comfort and usefulness of its inmates, which it is impossible to visit it without entertaining. I have to repeat my best thanks for much kindness received in this place; my best wishes for everybody whom I saw there; and my unaffected sorrow if a misconception of my duty has betrayed me into a word that can give pain to any one. I have the honour to be, &c., To the Right Honorable the Lords of the W. H. BROOKFIELD Special Report on the Normal Training School, at Edinburgh, in connexion with the Free Church of Scotland; by Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, JOHN GIBSON, ESQ. SIR, Edinburgh, March 1849. My Report on this large and important Institution naturally arranges itself into four distinct, but, of course, closely-connected, sections. I. The general character, as respects preliminary attainments and previous preparation, of those by whom it is attended, and for whose mental culture and professional training the institution exists. II. The subjects of instruction to which their attention is directed; the staff of officers by whom these studies are superintended and conducted; the order in which they are prosecuted as well as the duration of the period allotted to the study of each branch. III. The manner in which the students are classified, when they have entered upon their course of training, together with the circumstances and principles regulating this classifi cation. IV. The annals of the institution, as respects the number of students that have enjoyed its advantages, from year to year, the extent of the course of instruction prosecuted by them, and the average duration of the period of their attendance. The history of this institution is one of no ordinary interest, both as regards its bearing upon the improvement of the methods of teaching as well as upon the extension of the course of instruction imparted to the pupils of elementary schools, and, generally, as regards its influence in extending the views, directing the aims, dignifying the character, and elevating the social position of the teacher, in Scotland. In all these respects it merits a careful and detailed history. Year by year, it would be seen, did the views of those expand in whom was vested its superintendence. With singularly urgent calls upon their attention. and very loud demands upon their most earnest and most strenuous efforts, the claims of this institution were never overlooked, and the objects which it was intended to serve were *This Special Report on the Edinburgh Free Church Normal School was prepared not with the view of stating the results of the labours of its several Officers, but for the purpose of enabling the Committee of Council on Education to determine whether the accommodation and other arrangements of the Institution were such as to bring it within the scope of their Lordships' Minutes of August and December 1846, and entitle the Directors to aid, out of the Parliamentary Grant, towards meeting the expenses of its erection. never forgotten, and never undervalued by them. The object and nature of this report, however, forbid me attempting this now. Its object is simply practical; its nature must be chiefly statistical. I hope to have another opportunity of presenting an elaborate and carefully-prepared account of the institution, when it will be necessary to give, in detail, its simple, but, in my view, singularly important annals. I. The first feature of the Institution claiming attention is the Entrance Examination. This examination takes place once a year, at which period alone are students admitted. Young men of all religious denominations are received, but the subjects of examination, and the course of study afterwards entered upon, are determined and regulated mainly with a view to the benefit of those who intend to devote themselves to teaching in connexion with the Free Church. Every young man presenting himself as a candidate for admission must undergo this Entrance Examination.* It is conducted by means of printed papers, and generally occupies a week. These examination-papers have always been drawn by distinguished practical teachers, intimately acquainted with the subjects intrusted to them; and the written answers of the candidates for admission, after being carefully reviewed by the same gentlemen, are handed for revision to the Rector and Tutors of the Institution, who again make known the results to the Education Committee, with whom rests the final decision as to those who are qualified to enter, with advantage, upon the prescribed course of study and training. A somewhat definite idea of the attainments of those, who, after passing this examination, enter upon the employments and studies of the institution, may be obtained from a careful examination of the table † in which are specified, first, the subjects of examination; second, the value attached to proper answers to all the questions contained in each examination-paper; third, the actual value of the answers as given by each candidate, on each subject; and fourth, the total value of all the answers given by each candidate. This last item, viewed in its relation to the total value of perfect answers to all the questions, fixes the relation of each candidate to the standard of attainment. In connexion with this Entrance Examination, it is proper to describe the means that the Directors of the Institution have taken to induce a sufficient number of young men of suitable qualifications to present themselves as candidates, and to enable *For the subjects of this examination, see Appendix No. I. them thereafter to prosecute their studies. Circumstances have presented formidable obstacles to the complete organization and development of Normal Schools, or Colleges for Schoolmasters. The social position of the teacher of an elementary school is still so low, his remuneration so inadequate, the importance of his functions and the difficulty of discharging them aright so imperfectly apprehended, that, except to a few minds, instinctively attached to teaching, and having a strong natural aptitude for the work, the profession presents no fascinations. To be enrolled among its members kindles no ambition, elicits no anxiety, prompts no effort, begets no zeal. The influence of these circumstances has been evident throughout the history of this institution. And, with a view to overcome these obstacles, and to realize, more and more fully, their ideal of what such an institution as this should ultimately become, as well as to stimulate and encourage to higher efforts many young men whose zeal and natural aptitude had been, from time to time, brought under their notice, the Directors set apart a considerable sum as bursaries, or exhibitions, to be competed for from year to year, and to be awarded to those only, who, having successfully passed the Entrance Examination, were willing to devote themselves to teaching, and to declare, at the same time, that, but for this assistance, they could not afford the means requisite to prepare them, fully and satisfactorily, for their important work.* *The conditions of the competition are stated in the following circular:— REGULATIONS. I. Candidates must not be less than seventeen years of age, and shall be required to declare, before entering on the competition, that it is their wish and intention to devote themselves to the profession of teaching. II. Each candidate must produce a certificate of his moral and religious character from the minister of the congregation to which he belongs. Such certificate shall also set forth his attainments in scholarship, the degree of aptitude for practical teaching which he may seem to possess, and any circumstances in his history with which the committee ought to be acquainted. III. Each candidate must be in attendance at the seminary on the morning of Saturday, 26th September, for the purpose of being enrolled as a candidate. IV. The competition will be chiefly conducted by written questions, and the examinators will be guided in awarding the bursaries by the comparative results of the examination, the certificates of the ministers, and the report of the Rector of the Normal School in regard to aptitude for practical teaching. V. The committee will not defray the travelling expenses of unsuccessful candidates, but they would strongly urge, that, when necessary, these expenses should be defrayed by local parties acquainted with and interested in the young men recommended. VI. The bursaries shall consist of three classes, for which sums of 10l., 157., and 201., shall be set apart respectively. The VII. The bursars shall give regular attendance in the Normal School from the beginning of October until the end of July, and shall during that period be in all respects subject to the discipline and arrangements of that institution. bursaries shall be payable in monthly instalments, and the committee reserve to themselves full power at any time to withhold further payments on considering the |