sect. VII. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 327 



It has been urged, as an argument against 

 augmenting the school-masters salaries, that such 

 a measure might render them so far independent 

 of the school-fees, as to make them indolent and 

 negligent in the discharge of their duty. In 

 answer to this, I would ask whether four times 

 their present salary could render their circum- 

 stances so easy and independent, as to produce 

 the supposed effect. Men, whose sentiments 

 and taste have been cultivated by a liberal edu- 

 cation, who hold an important station in society, 

 and who must naturally wish to live in such a 

 style as to support the respectability of that sta- 

 tion, will find that the sum of 30 3. or 40 1. is 

 insufficient, even upon the most economical 

 plan, independent of school -fees and other per- 

 quisites. 



But, supposing an augmentation of salary- 

 should have a tendency to render them negli- 

 gent, the danger will be very generally prevent-* 

 ed by a sense of duty, a regard to reputation, 

 the love of esteem, and the desire which every 

 man feels of living respected and happy among 

 his neighbours. Or, should these considerations 

 in any instance fail, the heritors and minister 

 of the parish have a right to superintend the 

 conduct of the master, and to insist upon the 

 faithful discharge of his duty in all points. 



There are others, I am sorry to say, who re- 

 probate the establishment of parish-schools alto^ 

 gether, and are of opinion that no public en- 

 couragement or support should be given to such 

 an institution, alledging, that the education of 

 the lower classes is not only useless, but hurt- 

 ful ; nay, -some carry the matter so far, as tc 



