26 



As Professor Patrick Geddes, of Dundee University (to whom 

 I am indebted for many valuable thoughts), puts it, he is a baby- 

 farmer. It is well if some of the babies do not succumb under 

 his process. 



The whole tenor of Matthew Arnold's Reports on Ele- 

 mentary Schools for the years succeeding the establishment 

 of payment by results in 1863 is adverse to that system. So 

 soon as 1869 he says: — "The school examinations in view of 

 payment by results are, as I have said, a game of mechanical 

 contrivance, in which the teachers will and must more and 

 more learn how to beat us. It is found possible, by ingenious 

 preparation to get children through the Revised Code examina- 

 tion in reading, writing, and ciphering, without their really 

 knowing how to read, write, and cipher." 



Even Mr. Mundella begins to doubt the efficiency of the 

 u dead hand." I find in the Northern Whig of November 30th 

 last— "Mr. Mundella, speaking at the prize distribution at the 

 Stalybridge Mechanics' Institution to-night, said ' that he believed 

 in England too much attention had been devoted to machinery 

 and too little to men. In the future we should have to rely 

 upon our men and improved education.' " 



In the Canadian Education Department payment by results 

 was, I was told, tried some years ago and given up. The schools 

 are supported half by government, half by local rate. The 

 grant depends partly on the salary of the teachers, who are 

 appointed by local trustees, and partly on the number of pupils 

 attending. The teaching in the schools is kept from possible 

 laxity by periodical visits of an inspector, who must have given 

 evidence of teaching power before appointment to this post. 



In the Philadelphia schools when I enquired about payment 

 by results, I was asked what that was, and the smile of amused 

 pity that followed my explanation was instructive. Here also 

 there were inspections from head-quarters, but, as I gathered, 

 more to examine the teacher and his methods at any time the 

 inspector happened to call, and to give advice and assistance, 

 than to hold examinations of the pupils at appointed times, 

 for which they might be prepared. If there must be inspection 



