MINUTES

OF THE

COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON EDUCATION.

1846.

COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHITEHALL, 25th August, 1846.

By the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education.

General Minute.

THEIR Lordships had under their consideration the sufficiency of the present numbers of Inspectors of Schools for the duties they have to perform, and

Resolved, That it would be highly expedient that all the schools which are under the inspection of the Privy Council should be visited at least once in each year: that the existing number of Inspectors appears to be insufficient, as, notwithstanding their constant assiduity in the discharge of the duties intrusted to them, it is found impossible to make arrangements for the inspection of schools oftener than once in two years.

Their Lordships are, however, unwilling to make so considerable an addition at once to the number of Inspectors as would be necessary for an annual visit to each school, but will recommend the appointment of three new Inspectors this year, reserving for consideration hereafter any further appointments which may be required.

Their Lordships had further under their consideration the Report of the Inspectors of Schools, memorials from certain Boards of Education, and letters from the clergy and others, representing the very early age at which the children acting as assistants to schoolmasters are withdrawn from school to manual labour, and the advantages which would arise if such scholars as might be distinguished by proficiency and good conduct were apprenticed to skilful masters, to be instructed and trained, so as to be prepared to complete their education as schoolmasters in a normal school.

Resolved, That the Lord President cause Regulations to be framed, defining the qualifications of the schoolmaster, the condition of instruction in the school, and the local contributions to be required as conditions on which annual grants of money may be made towards the stipends of apprentices in elementary schools;

and further, cause indentures of apprenticeship to be prepared, declaring the duties of the apprentice and the nature of the instruction he is to receive; the periods of examination by the Inspectors of schools, and the circumstances under which the indenture may be dissolved, in order that stipends, increasing in each year of the apprenticeship, may be granted in aid of local contribution.

It was further Resolved, That as the masters having charge of the instruction and training of school apprentices will be selected for their character and skill, and as the education of the apprentices will increase the labour and responsibilities of such masters, it is expedient that the successful performance of these duties be rewarded by annual grants in aid of their stipends, according to the number of apprentices trained by each master.

It was further Resolved,-That it is expedient to make provision in certain cases, by a retiring pension, for schoolmasters and mistresses who, after a certain length of service, may appear entitled to such provision.

That the Lord President cause Regulations to be framed respecting the grants of such retiring pensions.

That it is expedient, for the further encouragement of deserving schoolmasters, that small gratuities be annually distributed, under the authority of the Lord President, to schoolmasters whose zeal and success in teaching may, on the Report of the Inspector, appear to entitle them to such encouragement; and that Regulations be framed with reference to the distribution of such gratuities.

COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHITEHALL, 21st December, 1846. By the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education.

REGULATIONS respecting the EDUCATION of PUPIL TEACHERS and STIPENDIARY MONITORS.

THE Lord President communicated to their Lordships the Regu lations which he had caused to be framed to carry into execution the Minute of the Committee of Council on Education of the 25th day of August, 1846, respecting the Apprenticeship of Pupil Teachers.

General Preliminary Conditions.

Upon application being made to their Lordships from the trustees or managers of any school under inspection, requesting that one or more of the most proficient scholars be selected to be apprenticed to the master or mistress, the application will be referred to the Inspector, and will be entertained, if he report,That the master or mistress of the school is competent to con

duct the apprentice through the course of instruction to be required:

That the school is well furnished and well supplied with books and apparatus:

That it is divided into classes; and that the instruction is skilful, and is graduated according to the age of the children and the time they have been at school, so as to show that equal care has been bestowed on each class :

That the discipline is mild and firm, and conducive to good order:

That there is a fair prospect that the salary of the master and mistress, and the ordinary expenses of the school, will be provided for during the period of apprenticeship.

General Rule.-The qualifications to be required of candidates and of pupil teachers in each year of their apprenticeship will be regulated by the following rules, in which the minimum of proficiency to be attained is precisely defined, in order to prevent partiality; but their Lordships reserve to themselves the power to reward superior merit by shortening the term of the apprenticeship, or by awarding the higher stipends of the later years of the apprenticeship to pupil teachers whose attainments enable them to pass the examination of one of the later years at an earlier period.

Pupil Teachers.-Qualifications of Candidates.

The following qualifications will be required from candidates for apprenticeship :

They must be at least thirteen years of age, and must not be subject to any bodily infirmity likely to impair their usefulness as pupil teachers.

In schools connected with the Church of England, the clergyman and managers, and, in other schools, the managers must certify that the moral character of the candidates and of their families justify an expectation that the instruction and training of the school will be seconded by their own efforts and by the example of their parents. If this cannot be certified of the family, the apprentice will be required to board in some approved household.

Candidates will also be required,

1. To read with fluency, ease, and expression.

2. To write in a neat hand, with correct spelling and punctuation, a simple prose narrative slowly read to them.

3. To write from dictation sums in the first four rules of arithmetic, simple and compound; to work them correctly, and to know the tables of weights and measures.

4. To point out the parts of speech in a simple sentence. 5. To have an elementary knowledge of geography.

6. In schools connected with the Church of England they will be required to repeat the Catechism, and to show that they under

stand its meaning, and are acquainted with the outline of Scripture history. The parochial clergyman will assist in this part of the examination.

In other schools the state of the religious knowledge will be certified by the managers.

7. To teach a junior class to the satisfaction of the Inspector. 8. Girls should also be able to sew neatly and to knit.

Qualifications of Pupil Teachers in each Year of their Appren ticeship.

At the end of the first year, pupil teachers will be examined by the Inspector:

1. In writing from memory the substance of a more difficult

narrative.

2. In arithmetic, the rules of "Practice" and "Simple Proportion,' ,"* and in the first rules* of mental arithmetic.

3. In grammar, in the construction of sentences, and in syntax. 4. In the geography of Great Britain and Palestine.

5. In the Holy Scriptures and in the Catechism, with illustrations by passages from Holy Writ, in Church of England schools, the parochial clergyman assisting in the examination.

The managers will, in other schools, certify in this and in the succeeding years of the apprenticeship, that they are satisfied with the state of the religious knowledge of the pupil teachers.

6. In their ability to give a class a reading lesson, and to examine it on the meaning of what has been read.

7. In the elements of vocal music, in this and in succeeding years, when taught from notes.

8. In their ability to drill a class in marching and exercises; and to conduct it through the class movements required for preserving order.

9. Girls should also be able to instruct the younger scholars in sewing and knitting.

At the end of the second year, pupil teachers will be examined by the Inspector:--

1. In composition, by writing the abstract of a lesson, or a school report.

2. In decimal arithmetic, and the higher rules of mental arithmetic. Girls will not be required to proceed beyond the rule of "Compound Proportion" in this year.

3. In syntax and etymology.

4. In the geography of Great Britain, of Europe, the British empire, and Palestine.

5. In the Holy Scriptures, Liturgy, and Catechism in Church of England schools, more fully than in the preceding year, the parochial clergyman assisting in the examination.

6. In their ability to examine a class in reading, in the rudi