so Middle-Class Education. 



versity and Public School men ; a Writing and Commercial 

 Master; a Drawing Master (an artist who exhibits at the Aca- 

 demy) ; a French and German Master ; all resident, Avith salaries 

 guaranteed by the Head-Master ; the teachers of music and 

 dancing attended weekly. 



My subject relates to Middle-Class Education, with special 

 reference to the agricultural section of the community ; but, 

 after much consideration, 1 have come to the conclusion that, up 

 to the age of fourteen, the education of the future farmer need 

 not differ from that of others, and that even after that age the 

 difference should be but slight, as I hope to show in detail. 



The regular classical instruction given at the public schools 

 I regard as given specially in preparation for the Universities, 

 and consequently superfluous for the young farmer beyond a 

 certain limit, although, up to that limit, the best education of 

 any for all classes. The outdoor discipline of a public school is 

 confessedly the most admirable training for any sphere of life, 

 but such discipline is attainable at any large and well-officered 

 establishment where proper confidence in youth is shown. The 

 presence and example of superior masters, gentlemen of energy 

 and high moral character, in the play-field as well as in the 

 class-room, will raise the tone of feeling among the boys, if, 

 from leading a secluded life at home, with none but inferiors 

 at hand, any of them are at first wanting in refinement and con- 

 sideration for the feelings of others. Of such masters there has 

 been of late years, from a variety of causes, an abundant supply. 

 They must be fairly paid, but this is the cheapest policy in 

 the end, as the annals of many a college and school can testify. 

 The cheap usher is a mainspring of vulgarity, and is too often 

 given to low excesses, which rapidly infect his pupils. 



The grand difficulty that besets a scheme for education at all 

 points in a small school is not the consumption of time (for 

 by a methodical adjustment of hours an intelligent master may 

 impart to industrious pupils a surprising amount of knowledge), 

 but the expense that is entailed by the engagement of adequate 

 teachers ; and this difficulty has been much increased of late in 

 consequence of the general diminution in the number of the 

 scholars who attend the smaller grammar schools. Several causes 

 have led to this result : — 



1. The facilities afforded by the railways to the local gentry 

 for sending their sons to public schools, and the increase of such 

 schools under the operation of the Limited Liability Act, and 

 otherwise. 



2. The increase of commercial academies professing to give 

 the so-called Middle-Class Education. 



3. The indifference of the farmers in the choice of a school, 



