58 



■ might be decreased by the giving of easier courses for the Inter- 

 mediate and other examinations would not, I fear, have the 

 desired effect. It would lead simply to a greater percentage of 

 crammed stupid people on the pass lists. The logical sequence 

 of an improvement of that kind would be the bribing of all 

 scholars whatsoever. 



Dr. Steen's remarks, coming from one of the masters of my 

 own old school, are exceedingly encouraging and helpful. I 

 trust there is more hope for the immediate future than he 

 entertains. 



Mr. Workman also is with me, and I am grateful for his 

 sympathy. His remarks are much to the point, though I 

 deprecate his use of the word " education " as applied to the 

 present system of school-work. 



Mr. Speers and Dr. Sheldon will, I hope, pardon me if I suggest 

 that the views they uphold might be broader, and that possibly 

 those who are not so much immersed as they in the details of 

 particular systems, do frequently see something well worth 

 attention outside the systems which these gentlemen so 

 stoutly defend. Nevertheless, I felt there was in Mr. Speers' 

 criticism an undertone of sympathy with what I should consider 

 true methods, and I thank him for his approval of my effort to 

 direct attention to the subject. I fully agree with him that Irish 

 boys are, generally speaking, more moral than English boys : 

 this is well known. But I would add to Mr. Speers' curriculum 

 some training for the body also. The race learnt labour before 

 letters, and the young of the race should probably follow the 

 same historical course. It is also impracticable to acquire 

 dexterity unless it be learnt early. 



Dr. Sheldon, in ievising his remarks, has kindly divided 

 them into sections, which may be considered separately. To 

 a and b the reports from American schools at pp. 18, 19, 

 are perhaps a sufficient answer. Persistent bullying is one 

 of the results of bad training referred to at p. 18, and can 

 perhaps in some cases be cured only by the rod ; but for minor 



