692 Outline of a Planfm^ 



Art. X. Parochial Institutions ; or an Outline of a Plan for a 

 National Education Establishment, suitable to the Children of all 

 Ranks, from Infancy to the Age of Puberty. 



Instead of pointing out the uses of education, in body, in mind, in heart, 

 and in manners, we shall at once take it as granted — 



That all human happiness and prosperity, whether public or private, do- 

 mestic or national, are founded on individual cultivation. 



That knowledge is pleasure as well as power ; and that of any two indi- 

 viduals in society, whether rich or poor, the more highly cultivated, other 

 circumstances being the same, will possess the greater share of happiness, 

 and will be the more valuable member of society. 



That every good principle in society, to do good eifectually and generally, 

 ought to be effectually and generally applied ; and that, therefore, to raise 

 any society or nation to the highest degree, individual cultivation should be 

 carried to the greatest practicable extent in all classes of society. 



That individual cultivation carried to its greatest practicable extent in any 

 one society, however corrupt or misgoverned it may be, will, sooner or later, 

 effect, in the laws and government of that society, every amelioration, and, 

 in the people, the highest degree of happiness and prosperity of which human 

 nature is susceptible under the given geographical circumstances. 



That the education of every individual has been encouraged by govern- 

 ment for the last thirty years in Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Baden, and other 

 states of Germany, and has been attended with the happiest effects on all 

 ranks in these countries; that it reformed the government of Wurtemberg 

 contrary to the wishes of its late king ; and that it has neutralised the 

 animosity of different religions, and produced and maintained a marked 

 superiority of happiness in Bavaria, Baden, and other states.* 



That a National Education Establishment in Great Britain would ulti- 

 mately, by degrees, and as far as human nature admits, lead to arrange- 

 ments which would correct every evil at present existing in society. 



These positions being granted, we shall present an outline of wnat we 

 think ought to be, I. The degree of education to be imparted ; II. The 

 description of school buildings ; III. The qualifications and duties of the 

 teachers; IV. The obligations of parents, with respect to sending their 

 children to be instructed ; V. The obligation of the parochial govern- 

 ments or vestries, with respect to seeing that the parents do their duty; 

 VI. The expense; VII. The immediate national advantages; and lastly, 

 VIII. we shall notice the objections to the scheme. 



We premise, however, that our plan is neither original on our part nor 

 striking, being little more than what is already put in practice in Bavaria, 

 Wurtemberg, and Baden. We have merely made such variations in the 

 application of the system which has been for upwards of thirty years in use in 

 those countries, as we think suitable to the present state of things in Britain. 

 We by no means offer this plan as perfect : but, such as it is, we think it 

 advisable to make it as public as possible, in order to call attention to the 

 subject, and we shall be happy to hear all that can be suggested for or 

 against it ; requesting only that our critics or commentators will previously 



* For proofs we refer to Des E'tablissemens pour rE'duccdion Publique 

 en Baviere dans le Wurtemberg et a Bade, &c. ( 1829. Paris, and Treuttell and 

 Wiirtz, London. 8vo, 2s. 6d.) Athejicvum, Apvil 22. 1829, p. 215. Monthly 

 Review, Aug. 1829, vol. xi. p. 604. Gard. Mag.,\o\. iv. p. 487. Alag. Kat. 

 Hist. , vol. \. p. 585. The Ecclesiastic, vol. i. p. 204. See also Ensor on 

 National Education, 8vo, 1811, by far the best work that has yet appeared 

 on the subject in any language. 



