172 BERMUDA. 



to be too well founded, — ^that they understood not 

 what they said. Words of somewhat similar sound, 

 but of quite different meaning, were in some cases 

 substituted ; in others, words appeared to be coined 

 without any meaning in them at all. These errors, 

 in many instances, were committed by pupils learning 

 grammar and geography. I am happy to report,, 

 however, that some improvement has since taken 

 place in this respect. 



The infant portion of the pupils (comprising more 

 than one half) are the greater sufferers for the want 

 of the improved system being introduced into the 

 schools. The teachers, with few exceptions, consider 

 that until their pupils can read, no other instruction 

 can be given them. Consequently, in a great ma- 

 jority of the schools, no oral instruction is intro- 

 duced, so well calculated as it is ' to call forth and 

 expand their reasoning faculties, to strengthen their 

 memories, and last, not least, to relieve the tedium 

 and monotony of their A B C's and monosyllables. 



On my second visit, I found in one school nineteen 

 children who could not read, said the Lord's Prayer 

 very imperfectly, and knew nothing of the Creed. I 

 inquired of the teacher " why they were not taught 

 the Creed ? " I was answered, " because they cannot 

 read." I took the nineteen children, and made them 



