THE CURRICULA, &C., OF INDUSTRIAL AND POOR-LAW SCHOOLS. 325 
Homes. 
The 243 Homes include :—43 for Boys; 110 for Girls; 89 Mixed. 
Seventy-seven of these institutions provide accommodation for 1,043 
Boys; 1,859 Girls; 131 Mixed; a total of 3.033 children. 
A large number of blank forms were returned, and the information 
{he Committee obtained had in these cases to be extracted from enclosed 
printed forms or from printed lists of schools :— 
38 of the homes sent printed reports. 
5 returned the forms with the names of the schools, but gave 
no further information. One lady states that she ‘ does 
not. desire to fill up the papers,’ another that she is 
‘unable to do what you desire.’ 
The homes are not all free; thirty-six receive fees from Boards of 
Guardians. 
As the children attend the ordinary Elementary schools the educa- 
{ional work is under inspection by the Board of Education :— 
38 of the homes are inspected by the Local Government Board. 
47 are Church of England Homes for Waifs and Strays, and 
are inspected by their own Committees. 
5 are not inspected at all. 
6 are inspected by the Rescue Society. 
11 are reported closed. 
73 say nothing about inspection. 
40 are under private inspection. 
18 state in writing their willingness to be visited. 
2 decline to be visited. 
Technical Work. 
There was no information given as to the details of technical 
{training :-— 
86 of the homes train girls for domestic service. 
3 train boys for distinct trades. 
A few of the homes send children to Canada. 
There is no evidence from the reports or otherwise that the girls 
are trained for service by qualified teachers; they assist in the house- 
work of the homes. 
General Remarks. 
The main conclusion arrived at by the Committee is that while 
orphanages for children of distinct classes of workers appear to be 
doing admirable work, and in particular the Roman Catholic schools 
of certain localities are excellent, yet many institutions for poorer chil- 
dren provide a very monotonous education even when the phudzen 
go out to the elementary schools. 
In most cases there is no evidence that the education given prepares 
the children for after life. The teachers are to a great extent untrained, 
especially in technical work, and it is doubtful if the technica] work 
taught is of a standard to be useful in any trade. 
