134 SIXTH REPORT — 1836. 



Of this number about 6000 were under 5, or above 15 years of age. 

 Thus 27,200 children between the ages of 5 and 15 were found to be 

 attending school, whereas it is estimated that there are in the borough 

 57,500 children of corresponding age (or one fourth of the total popu- 

 lation of 230,000) ; and it consequently appears that 30,300 children 

 between 5 and 15 years old (or more than half of the whole number of 

 children of that age), were not attending any schools whatever, at the 

 time of the inquiry. 



The Report minutely examines the quality and extent of the instruc- 

 tion professed to be given in each class of schools, with the exception 

 of those where the children of the wealthier ranks are instructed. The 

 appendix contains a detailed account of the charity schools, which are 

 numerous. Most of them are connected with the Sunday schools or 

 congregations of particular sects, the members of which contribute to 

 defray the expenses of their schools. Tlie Sunday schools themselves 

 form a very unimportant item in the sum total of the existing means of 

 education. 



The Committee state in the following general terms the conclusions 

 to which their inquiries have led them. 



First. — Of the whole number of children in the borough of an age to 

 be instructed more than one-half are receiving no educatioi i in schools, 

 either really or nominally. 



Secondly. — Of those who do attend school, more than one-third are 

 the children attending dame and common day schools, son.e of whom 

 acquire nothing by their attendance at school to which the term educa- 

 tion can reasonably be applied, and the remainder, with few exceptions, 

 receive an education of the very lowest description. 



Fifthly. — The remaining schools, for the education of the children 

 of the lower classes, consist chieflj^ of charity schools, some of which 

 have infant, and most of which have Sunday schools attached to them ; 

 they receive, within their walls, about forty-five per cent, of the whole 

 number of children attending school in the borough, and are supported, 

 in great part, by the funds of private individuals. The education given 

 in these schools is of a more effective kind. The school rooms are 

 more airy and spacious ; and the teachers are often of a higher and 

 better educated class, and have stronger motives to the zealous discharge 

 of their duties. 



Further. — The result of the Committee's inquiries may be expressed 

 in the following condensed form : 

 12,000 Children of all ages receiving, entirely at the cost of the parent, 



an education of a very low order. 

 13,000 Children of all ages receiving, partly at the expense of the 

 parents, partly from private benevolence, an education 

 more or less effective, but in all cases of some real value 

 to the child. 

 3,700 Children of all ages receiving some little instruction in Sunday 



schools, but no regvdar education. 

 4,000 Children of the upper and middle classes, educated in superior 

 private schools. 



32,700 Children of all ages receiving instruction, of whom 26,700 are 

 between 5 and 15 years old ; and there are not less than 30,000 

 children between the ages of 5 and 15 receiving no education in schools 

 either really or nominally. 



