Tlie Agricultural Labourer. 795 = 529 
t of recent years have engaged the attention of our statesmen 
lire than that of Education ; and the recent Acts of Parliament 
I zing provided school accommodation in every part of the 
cintry, an indirect system of compulsion has been set on foot, 
vich virtually compels every labouring man's child to become 
f the greater part of the year a regular attendant at the Board 
cNational School. By obliging children under a certain age Now virtually 
t exhibit a certificate showing either a definite standard of compulsory. 
eciency or a certain number of attendances before they can 
c ain employment, direct compulsion is avoided, but a pressure 
i lut upon parents, which they can scarcely resist, of obtaining 
f their children a sufficient degree of education to enable 
tm, at an early age, to contribute their mite to "keep the pot 
bling." The necessary subjects taught in Board Schools at 
t present day comprise reading from standard lesson books, 
V ting, including dictation, and arithmetic ; but a large number 
0 extra subjects are also included usually in the course of 
1 truction. History, geography, English grammar, vocal Subjects of 
Dsic, drill, and drawing, are all subjects which are more or education. 
1(; taught, according to the efficiency of the teachers and the 
aness of the pupils. It is scarcely necessary to observe, how- 
e r, that few farm-labourers' children (whose labour is gene- 
r.y absolutely necessary for as much of the year as possible 
f( their own bodily well-being) attain to any great efficiency 
ii;hese higher branches of instruction; but the day has gone 
bwhen the stigma of ignorance in the fundamental principles 
0 elementary instruction need rest on any labouring man's 
eld. 
The school fees payable at Board or National schools for the School fees, 
fi course of instruction are generally about 2(1. a week in 
tl case of the elder children, and \d. each for the younger 
os; and even these can be remitted, in cases of absolute 
nessity, by the School Board or the Guardians of the Poor, 
le usual hours of schooling are from 9 A.M. to 12 noon, and 
fm 2 to 4.30 P.M. on every day of the week except Saturday 
a I Sunday. There are holidays of a fortnight at Christmas, 
a I of a month or more at harvest. The number of attend- 
a es necessary to qualify a child for agricultural employment 
i.'i50, which are generally filled up in the autumn or winter 
nnths, so as to enable him to assist his parents by his labour 
ii;he spring and summer. As two attendances can be made in 
e h day, about half the year must necessarily be occupied with 
&ool work, except in the somewhat rare event of the child 
homing entitled by previous examination to a dispensation of 
tli rule. After the present year (1877) no child can go to 
i 
