TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 145 
such scientific instruction ; that as to honours and prizes, it should be placed on 
an equal footing with mathematics and modern languages; that universities and 
colleges should be invited to make it a subject of examination, and that the im- 
portance of appointing lecturers, and offering entrance scholarships, exhibitions, 
and fellowships, should be represented to the authorities of colleges. 
No mention is here made of the extent to which, or the mode by which, the 
Government might be called upon to aid in improving the technical education of 
the country. In the early part of this year, however, a conference, called by the 
Society of Arts, brought together a great number of the most eminent statesmen, 
men of science, teachers, and representatives of manufactures and commerce, by 
whom this important subject was for two days discussed under all its varied 
aspects. It would be invidious to mention names, when nearly all the distinguished 
thinkers who have so long worked for the educational improvement of the people 
contributed their part to the discussion. The resolutions were general, giving 
only the broad outlines of the opinion of the meeting, as it was intended to appoint 
a subcommittee to carefully examine and report on the details. 
The report of the Committee, which was not delivered in till the 21st of July 
last, states that the conclusions they had arrived at were in substance, that tech- 
nical education, as referred to them, excludes the manual instruction in art given 
in the workshop, rather meaning general instruction in those sciences the prin- 
ciples of which are applicable to the various employments of life. It should be 
given, not in separate professional institutions, but in those for general education. 
It is desirable that schools should be established, having for théir main object the 
teaching of science as a mental discipline. It is necessary to introduce scientific 
teaching in all secondary schools. The higher scientific instruction should be 
tested by public examinations, and the proficiency of the students certified by 
diplomas. In detailing the course of instruction for certain businesses, such as 
aericulture and gardening, chemical manufactures, metallurgy, mining, civil engi- 
neering, mercantile marine, that of the naval architect and marine engineer, the 
mechanical engineer and machinist, the architect, and the merchant, the scientific 
instruction should be followed by practical pupilage in efficient workshops or 
establishments. A great advance in technical education might be expected, if the 
employers of labour would generally give the preference to those who produce 
evidence of having been adequately instructed in the sciences applicable to their 
particular occupations. 
These are practical suggestions, but the question itself opens up nearly all the 
points or theories to which the discussion of the general education of a people has 
given rise. Is it to be expected that ignorance would seek for instruction of its 
own accord? If scientific instruction is to be brought down to the lower class of 
labourers, by what means shall the parent who prefers utilizing the manual labour 
of his child at an early age, be compelled to spare him for the higher duty of in- 
struction in order that he may be enabled to earn more for himself hereafter ? 
It seems admitted that if better instruction is given in the secondary schools, it 
must also be improved in the primary, as there is evidence to show that there is 
little disposition in scholars to take to the higher class of learning without having 
received the elements of it at least in the earlier stage. It is also proposed that 
children should remain longer at school. How will this affect the labour market, 
and will the greater skill acquired compensate for the delay ? 
The attempts which have been hitherto made to bring lectures and labora- 
tories within reach of the working classes, do not appear to have been very suc- 
cessful, nor, as a general rule, do the employers of labour, who, we should imagine, 
would most benefit by the increased intelligence of their workmen in their special 
art, give much encouragement to the efforts of those who have so patriotically 
devoted themselves to this object. In Cornwall the Mining Institution failed in 
its expected effects by the original defective education of the working classes, who, 
unable to read easily, or to take notes, or to do the simple arithmetic required for 
the calculation of the percentage of ores, soon grew tired of lectures they could not 
follow with interest. Professor Huxley points out that the School of Mines in 
Jermyn Street was not established by the mining interests, but by the eminent 
geologist, Sir H, De la Beche, and that very few pupils attended ie gol 
1868, 
