454 EEPOET — 1901. 



but in regard to educational endowments, both at school and university, 

 it is now seen to have been made in some resj^ects too universal and 

 absolute. 



One result of our present system is that prizes go too exclusively to 

 the well-to-do. 



A considerable proportion of the endowments both at school and 

 college, given as scholarships or exhibitions, is enjoyed by those who do 

 not need such pecuniary assistance. There is consequently a certain 

 amount of waste which might be avoided. 



But a much stronger objection to this unrestricted competition is that 

 the endowments in many cases thus become the rewards, not of the most 

 promising ability, but of the most elaborate and expensive preparation : 

 ' To him that hath shall be given.' 



These considerations suggest that, whilst the principle of open election 

 by merit should he scrupulously maintained, the value of open scholar- 

 ships and exhibitions, both at school and university, should be consider- 

 ably reduced, and the amount thus saved should form a supplementary 

 exhibition fund out of which the authorities might increase the emolu- 

 ments of every meritorious scholar so elected who applied and gave proof 

 that his pecuniary circumstances were such as to call for this addition. 

 They suggest, further, that there should be some modified return to the 

 allocation of endowments to districts (the poorer country districts, which 

 are sometimes the birth-places of boys and girls of talent, having specially 

 suffered by the reforms of the last half -century), care being taken so to 

 arrange the allocation as to encourage and cultivate ability and to give 

 that further and general intellectual stimulus wliich is given by arousing 

 local interest and enlisting in the cause of educational development the 

 spirit of local patriotism, thus stirring a good deal of intellectual ambition 

 which now lies dormant. 



The ancient country grammar schools, owing to their connection with 

 some college at Oxford or Cambridge, undoubtedly exercised in their day 

 a stimulative intellectual influence which has been to some extent lost in 

 some rural districts of late years. 



Looking, then, to the needs of our rural districts I venture to put it 

 forward as a suggestion which deserves favourable consideration that not 

 less than 5 per cent, of the funds now awarded at Oxford and Cambridge 

 in scholarships and exhibitions might be formed into a ' county scholar- 

 ship fund,' and offered in due proportions to the various counties on 

 condition, in every case, that the county educational authorities provide 

 an equivalent sum for the same purpose. 



These scholarships to be confined, in the first instance, to candidates 

 born and educated in the county, and to be tenable in any college of 

 either university. 



Now that the Honour Schools of the university are thrown open to 

 women, a fair proportion of these scholarships should be made available 

 for girls. 



I commend this suggestion to the universities as a reasonable and 

 prudent mode of casting their bread upon the waters. The result could 

 hardly fail to be a wide extension of their influence, tending to make 

 them more truly national, whilst it would give a considerable stimulus to 

 intellectual interest, culture, and progress in every district thus aided. 



My other criticism on the present use of endowments has reference to 

 the premature specialisation encouraged and fostered by the offering of 



