APPENDIX II 



Referring to the cost of the agricultural training in rural 

 schools proposed in Chapter V, it is evident that — looking 

 at the enormous sum now spent on elementary education — 

 there ought to be no extra cost to the ratepayer, or taxpayer, 

 by the adoption of these proposals. It is not easy to ascertain 

 exactly what that sum really is. The Reports of the Board 

 of Education are carefully prepared with a desire to give 

 every information, but they are of necessity so complicated 

 that it is difficult for the ordinary reader to draw exact con- 

 clusions from them. An estimate for the year 1904-5 may 

 be given, though elementary education is now in a transition 

 state, involving changes which will no doubt add largely to 

 the expenditure in later years. 



The following figures are given only as approximately 

 correct, but they are sufficient to show the ratepayers and 

 taxpayers what they are paying for education, and to enable 

 them to judge whether or not they have " value received " 

 for the large sums expended. Roughly stated, the total cost 

 of elementary education in England and Wales for the year 

 1904-S is at least about 19 millions sterling, of which amount 

 not much less than one-half is raised from rates and other 

 local sources. 



The total amount works out at about £1, 12s. yd. per child 

 of the children in average attendance (about 5^ millions, or 

 87 per cent of the number on the books). Of the total cost 

 the rural ratepayers and taxpayers, nearly all of whom are 

 farmers or others connected with the land, pay at a rough 

 estimate about 4I millions sterling for an education absolutely 

 unfitted for country life. Worse than that — for an education 



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