208 REPORT— 1871. 



the two divisions of what are called the Classical and Modem or Conimercial sidei ; 

 and while, of course, there is provision in the Edinburgh University for the com- 

 pletion of the former, there was greatly needed, in the interest of the latter, a 

 Chair of Commercial and Political Economy and Mercantile Law. Under the 

 powers embraced in the Scheme, such a Chair has been endowed and a Professor 

 appointed. 



There was yet another sphere of usefulness which it was contemplated to over- 

 take. While power was asked which would enable the Governors so greatly to 

 benefit the general community by the establishing of these schools &c., W means 

 of which meritorious children of the humbler classes could receive an education of 

 the best kind, fitted to advance them in life, and while power was also asked to 

 do something for the University, it was thought riglit to look with a kindly eye 

 on the very poorest of the community — to include in the Scheme powers for estab- 

 lishing Industrial »Schools, to assist in gathering in the neglected boys and girls of 

 the city. The carrying out of this work is imder consideration, great difficulty 

 having been experienced in view of the Government Education I5ill for Scotland 

 (which was expected to pass this session) containing express provisions for indus- 

 trial schools, compassing the whole wants of the city by levied rates. 

 (. The author then described the favourable reception of the Scheme by the Govern- 

 ment, the press, and the public generally. 



The advertisements announcing the opening of the day-schools appeared about 

 the end of July last year, and in about a fortnight no fewer than 2G00 children had 

 passed the entrance-examination. Shortly afterwards the number which could be 

 accommodated in three of the four buildings was made up, there being, inclusive 

 of about 200 foundationers, 3400 pupils enrolled. The head-masters then, seeing 

 the size of the schools which they were to have, advertised for teachers. The plan 

 of selection which they adopted was, while engaging those whom they thought 

 most suitable, to give a preference to such as would bo likely to suffer by the new 

 schools. They could not do more in their interest, without running the risk of 

 sacrificing the efficienc^y of the schools for the benefit of individuals, however 

 deserving otherwise, and thereby imperilling the success of the entire educational 

 Scheme. 



In carrj'iug out a gi'cat reform like this, it coidd not be otherwise but that incon- 

 veniences and partial losses to some teachers would occur. There was, however, 

 the satisfaction of knowing that, by the limited number of pupils in each class, an 

 increased number of teachers were employed, and that their salaries were consider- 

 ably greater than they previously liad been. It is understood that, in consequence 

 of this, good teachers in some other schools in Edinbargh_ have since been better 

 paid than they formerly were. ^ 



The schools had only been opened for a few weeks when their success as efficient 

 institutions seemed certain. The large number of pupils enabled their being 

 grouped according to their attainments so thoroughly, that those placed in the 

 same class were all but equal. Their individual teachers therefore, instead of 

 having to give separate instruction, as it were, to children in different stages of 

 progress, of which most classes are composed, when speaking to one pupil were 

 addressing themselves to the capacity of all. Thus the classes had a much gi-eater 

 amount of instruction given them than would have been the case in other circum- 

 stances. Again, the large benefits to be obtained by competition at the end of the 

 session had a wonderful effect in stimulating the exertions of both pupils and 

 teachers. The consequence was that rapid progress was made in all the schools. 

 Parents, not slow to observe this, in calling at the institutions, said that since their 

 children attended them, they had worked at their lessons in a way which they had 

 never done before, and expressed themselves satisfied with the schools in the 

 highest degree. Persons interested in education from many parts of the countiy 

 visited the schools, all of whom, the autlior believed, were most favourably im- 

 pressed with what they saw ; and applications for the admission of other children 

 became so numerous, that at the end of the first quarter the number on the super- 

 numerary roll was very lai'ge. 



The Scheme provides that a general examination of the institutions has to be 

 made once a year by examiners appointed for that purpose, who are to report upon 



