TEANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 2.27 



scliools, for they must be such as wiU afford not only tho higliest payment that 

 can secure first-rate teaching, but a moderate dividend on the capital, without 

 which all hope of future schools would be at an end. But too much is otten said 

 about low fees; thev may be so low as to be only a disguised form ot chanty, and 

 the middle classes of England can pay and ought to pay lor the education ot their 

 own daughters. When the diliicidty is too great, the elementary schools oiler the 

 rudiments of loiowledgo, soundly and thoroughly taught, at so small a cost that 

 tlie saviu"- made by placing some children there would probably suihce to pay tor 

 sending the more promising of the family to higher and more expensive schools ; 

 and there will have been uo sacrifice of real education, such as would follow from 

 sendin>^ girls to one of the genteel seminaries, where bad French, bad music, and 

 worse arithmetic are taught at the cost of all that strengthens character and disci- 

 plines the un. lerstanding. One great dilE culty has been how to secure to a commer- 

 cial company its true educational character; this has been met, as far as possible, by 

 inserting in' the articles of association some points that are considerexl of the most 

 fundamental importance. Two only can be mentioned here :— 1st. The Company 

 will found none but public day-schools, opened to all classes and denominations; 

 2ndly. Every school founded by the Company will have a class of student teachers. 

 The training of teachers is one of the most important subjects and one ot the most 

 neglected in Eusjland. It is curious to find that it is still a question supposed to 

 admit of discussion ; to us it seems that as well might a doctor practice without 

 knowimr medicine or a lawyer ^vithout studying law, as a teacher pretend to edu- 

 cate without studyino' the principles of human nature and tho methods of educa- 

 tion. As every good'hospital is a school for medicine, so should every good school 

 be a training institution for teachers. m • • • 4.1 i 



Women have every inducement to follow this training. Tuition is the only 

 liberal profession opened to them, and their own ignorance has so depressed their 

 condition that they occupy a dillerent level altogetlier from that occupied by male 

 teachers. And, again, all women ought to study education, because by natural 

 position the large majority of them are necessarily educators, while all more or less 

 come in contact with children. The conditions of their life require that all s ion d 

 be fit to be trusted in the nursery as in the sick room, and therefore that all should 

 study the conditions of health and the principles of education. _ 



Tho National Union, in order to carry so many important objects, can use influence 

 only and appeal to the friends of education in all parts of the coimtry to give aid in 

 spreading right views and in combating prejudice, working steadily and methodically 

 till some symptoms of better days shall appear when England may no longer thmk 

 the education of her daughters a matter of no national importance. 



Ou the Economic and Nutritive Value of the three principal Preserved 

 Foods, viz. Preserved Mill; Preserved Meat, and Liebiijs Extract of Meat. 

 By Dr. Edwaed Smith, F.B.S. 



MECHANICAL SCIENCE. 



Address hy Fkedekick J. Beamwell, C.E., President of the Section. 



The practice of commencing the business of a Section by an Addi-ess from its 

 President has been so generally followed for many years past that it may be 

 looked upon as more than a practice, and as being m eiiect a ride of the iJritisli 



Association. ^ ,, ■ t ±-^ a 



Under these circumstances I feel that were I to consult my own inclination, and 

 were to refrain from taking up your time by delivering an address, 1 should be 

 guilty of a disrespect towards you, and should be setting a bad example to the 

 Presidents who will succeed me, and who, under the excuse of my departure Irom. 



