132 REPORT— 1856. 



These statistics go to show that no system, however perfect, will satisfactorily meet 

 the educational wants of the land, so long as the improvident parent is under no obli- 

 gation to send his children to the school. Even the Denominational Schools already 

 supply more room than is filled, and if this be the case in the localities where the 

 presence of the higher orders of society must exercise a favourable influence, it is 

 more than possible, nay, it is sure that the free and rate-supported schools in wholly 

 destitute neighbourhoods, will miss their aim for want of children. From the census 

 return we find 17,002 children attending school in, Manchester and Salford, while 

 private inquiry in connexion with Mr. Entwhistle's local scheme, gives the number 

 21,925. Taking the larger figure, and comparing it with the school accommodation 

 which is given on the same authority, as 74,887 children, we find that two-thirds of 

 the school accommodation is entirely wasted. How much lost energy therefore may 

 be expected in those rate-supported schools erected and set to work in the still poorer 

 and neglected localities, without some species of compulsion ? But for what species 

 of compulsion are we prepared ? Mr. Horner remarks, " Popular education must be 

 in some form obligatory, and the successful working of the Factory Act in this respect 

 is a very satisfactory heyinning." Let the inhibitory clauses of the Factory Act be at 

 once applied to at least similar fields of child employment ; and in all other desul- 

 tory and less organized spheres of labour, let it be illegal to employ a boy under 14 

 who cannot produce the school certificate that he has attended for three years, 172 

 days at least during each year. Above all we repeat, make it compulsory upon a 

 child who receives out-door parochial relief, that he attend a day-school at the expense 

 of the parish, and ultimately make a certificate of school attendance a condition of 

 the elective franchise. Beyond this it is better to foster than to force. It is a favour- 

 able sign that the Government have adopted the employment of educational tests as 

 passports to clerkships in public offices. The example of Government has been hap- 

 pily followed by the Society of Arts, who have established a system of examination 

 with granting certificates of merit. A large number of capitalists, both individual 

 and corporate, have signed a declaration that they will give preference to candidates 

 for their more lucrative offices who hold these certificates. A great necessity presses 

 upon the Government for establishinginstitutionsof secondary education. In France 

 we find ecoles de dessein and schools of trade ; but in England, the workshop of the 

 world, where there is no law to compel attendance in the primary school, there is no 

 opportunity of learning the principles of trade in the secondary school. The time 

 has gone by when England can safely trust to her coal and iron, when steam can 

 cheaply convey the raw material to countries who are educating their skilled operatives. 



Another instrument of secondary education is the establishment of Free Libraries. 

 Wherever the measure has been tried the most satisfactory results have followed. In 

 the Parliamentary Return asked for by Mr. Ewart, we find very interesting details. 



At Liverpool, " the number of volumes issued in the first year was 35,928, in the 

 second 99,021, and the circulation is now 5000 per week." 



At Oxford, " during the two years since its establishment 236,000 persons have 

 visited the Free Library. Here the working-man finds rest after a day of labour, 

 which he was wont to spend in a far less creditable manner." 



At Salford we find the issue steadily increasing at the rate of 10,000 a year, while 

 a corresponding improvement in taste is observable in the following comparison of 

 the character of the books selected. The comparison is limited to 3000 consecutive 

 issues of books: — 



All Classes except fiction. Works of fiction. Total. 



1850 .... 1069 .... 1931 .... 3000 



1851 .... 1316 .... 1684 .... 3000 



1852 .... 1816 .... 1184 .... 3000 



1853 .... 1915 .... 1085 .... 3000 



1854 .... 2199 .... 801 ... . 3000 



1855 .... 2280 .... 720 ... . 3000 



Risumi. — In the advocacy of a supplementary measure, let it be distinctly seen 

 that present schools will not be thinned by proximate free schools, and that they will 

 not slip under the control of the local board. Let it be felt that such supplementary 

 measure looks simply at present to the lowest and outcasts of our children. In this 

 way the religious jealousy of denominations will be avoided, for they never quarrel 



