488 Domestic Notices : — England. 



that most of the poor inhabitants about Potton are dissenters of one sort 

 or another. We would confine school instruction to what is common to 

 the religious of all civilised nations, morality and charity, and which Mr. 

 Ensor has shown (Principles of Morality) to have been inculcated even so 

 far as " to do unto all men as you would they should do unto you," by 

 pagans, by Antoninus Pius, and also by Trajan. The particular dogmas we 

 would leave to be taught by the fathers and the mothers, as in Germany 

 and America. To the following passage in the proposal we entirely object ; 

 chiefly because, so far as our observation goes, it is untrue : — "It has been 

 alleged, and, perhaps, not without reason, that the present system of 

 popular education has tended to unfit the poor for those situations in life 

 in which they would have to move, making them aspire to preferment 

 which they can never reach ; the consequence of which has been, discontent, 

 idleness, and often vice." We should really be glad to know in what part 

 of the country the poor had been rendered discontented, idle, and vicious, 

 by education. Discontented with their present situation we hope education 

 always will render the poor and miserable, to such an extent as will stimu- 

 late them to better it, by increased skill and industry ; but what " system 

 of popular education" it may be which has led to " idleness, and often vice," 

 we confess we are utterly at a loss to know. We certainly think the asser- 

 tion at variance with the general sense of the country on the subject. 



The remaining part of the Proposal we think good, and shall be most 

 happy to see it supported, and carried into execution, hoping that it may 

 ultimately lead to the establishment of parochial institutions, such as we 

 have recommended (Vol. V.), or something better, all over the country. 

 The following are the essential parts of the Proposal : — 



That there be a school for forty boys and forty girls, under the care of a 

 master and mistress, in separate buildings. 



That they be taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, but that half the 

 school hours be spent in works of labour and industry ; the boys to mend 

 their own clothes and shoes, clean knives and shoes, to vise the needle and 

 hammer, as well as the pen ,• also out-door work, such as digging, gardening, 

 hedging and ditching, and also ploughing when an opportunity offers. 



That the girls be employed in needle-work, washing and ironing, mending 

 their own clothes, in the business of a dairy, and in such practices of 

 good housewifery as may fit and recommend them to good services. 



That the expense of this establishment be provided for by public subscrip- 

 tion, but that each child do pay, weekly, 3d. for the instruction and advan- 

 tages it may obtain in these schools. 



That, in order to encourage regular attendance and good behaviour, bits 

 of land be given to those boys who shall be recommended by the master, 

 which, on certain conditions, they shall cultivate for the benefit of then* 

 parents. 



That an infant school be connected with this establishment, the opera- 

 tion of which is better understood by inspection than by any detail in 

 writing, and the importance of such an institution, it is presumed, needs no 

 recommendation. Suffice it to say that, whilst it affords health, cleanliness, 

 and instruction to the children, it enables the mothers to earn something 

 for their families, being secure that their offspring are not only taken care 

 of, but receiving instruction with happiness and delight. It is given them 

 in the shape of amusement : the rod is never thought of j but the attention 

 of the children is gained by the smiles and caresses of the instructor. The 

 affection to the natural parent is at the same time preserved, and at the 

 close of the day the infant is received at home with redoubled love and 

 kindness on account of the improvement it has received. Compare this 

 system with what are termed dame's schools. In these, a large number of 

 children are crowded in a small room, fixed to their seats, and either totally 

 unemployed, or, what is nearly the same thing, doomed to the one unvaried 



