38 Middle-Class Education. 



by giving' each boy a plot for his amusement, it being im- 

 perative that the plot be fairly cultivated, for there are a number 

 of boys who will shirk all labour whatever if they can. A small 

 exhibition should be held, and prizes given, at the fitting 

 season. Simple experiments with manures, superphosphate, 

 dung, urine, oak-leaves, &c., may be made, all of which will 

 leave in the mind a useful sediment of information for after 

 life. 



Carpentering. — Since, as Mr. Mechi truly says, so much of the 

 farmer's prosperity depends upon an accumulation of small 

 gains, and, I may add, the avoidance of unnecessary outlav, I 

 Avould have him competent to direct and value the repairs of his 

 implements, out-houses, tScc. Something of this useful art the 

 boys might be easily taught on wet half-holidays, when they are 

 too apt to resort to the nearest public-house to drink on the sly, 

 or to the boot-maker's to smoke ; the axe, chisel, plane, and 

 other simple tools may then be put into their hands. Accom- 

 plishments in the way of turning will follow of themselves. 

 These labours should be superintended by a competent in- 

 structor who can maintain his authority — that is a vital point ; 

 for few things are more demoralising to a school, in the military 

 sense of the word, than an instructor who fails to command atten- 

 tion. I have found by experience that the best disposed lads 

 left to themselves in a carpenter's shop or turning-room too often 

 do exceeding and thoughtless damage. 



If a boy have his playtime so occupied, he must have some 

 compensation when the rain has passed, or the result will be 

 damaging to his disposition. It is then a good plan to substitute 

 a boys' concert or an amusing lecture for the usual evening's 

 work. 



Hours. — I have seen and known all sorts of " hours " tried, 

 but I never knew any plan that could surpass that which places 

 the hardest head-work early in the day (before the intellectual edge 

 is blunted, and the mental eye wearied by the multitude of images 

 that cross it), and the most fagging days earliest in the week ; 

 so you rob the necessary labour of half its pain ; the week slips 

 away insensibly and pleasantly, leaving a heap of work done, of 

 which the boy has scaicely felt the producing. I would have 

 the school up and at work at half-past 6 o'clock in the morning, 

 and the school day over at 3 P.M., when the boys should dine, 

 having had bread and butter at half-past 12. So you dissever 

 work from play, each being in its own time most thorough. The 

 system of intermixing the two throughout the Avhole day makes 

 school hateful, and can be likened only to giving half a dose of 

 medicine, which sadly sickens without producing the intended 

 beneficial effect. Especially oppressive both to pupil and 



