594 
On Technical Education , 
[October, 
classes examined (which amounted in December, 1881, to 
105) and the number of successful individuals (these num- 
bered 1521) ; with a larger number of classes than in the 
previous year a fewer number were successful, and in all 
the subjects examined upon the successes were the most 
numerous in the lowest stage, and in the second (the lowest) 
class in that stage ; in Elementary Botany, for example, 
30 passed in the first class, 297 in the second class, and 170 
failed ; and the opinions of the Department’s own Examiners 
on the Science teaching given in these Colleges were quoted 
in the last article (p. 542). 
For this worse than doubtful Science teaching there was 
paid to the teachers in the English and Welsh Colleges 
£3308 3s. 4 d., and to those in the Scotch Colleges £403 3s. 4 d., 
making a total of £371 1 6s. 8 d. 
Before proceeding with the investigation into the so-called 
Science Schools, we will give a quotation from the twenty- 
ninth Report respecting them, which will show the ricketty 
foundation on which, according to the opinion of the Depart- 
. ment itself, very nearly two-thirds of these schools are 
based, although a most expensive administrative machine^ 
for governing and directing these ephemeral institutions has 
been permanently established on a very substantial money 
basis. It is stated in the Report 44 that the term 4 Science 
School ’ is employed in this Report in a somewhat wide 
sense, each separate institution in which one branch of 
Science, or more than one, is taught, in connection with the 
Department of Science and Art, being counted as a School.” 
Examinations were conducted in the sessional year 1880-81 
in 1360 of these Science Schools; of these 1000 were in 
England and Wales, 151 in Scotland, and 209 in Ireland ; 
and, according to the Report, out of this number there are 
about 260 of these of a more or less ephemeral character,” 
and there are about 580 of them 44 which depend more on the 
teacher or the teachers, through whose energy they came into 
operation, than on any very permanent local organisation. 
They are superintended by Committees, but they are gene- 
rally held in rooms hired for the purpose, and though they 
have been in operation for some years, and it is probable that 
they will be continued, the death or removal of the teacher 
might , and in many cases would, lead to their being closed .” 
The number of individuals under instruction amounted to 
61,177 : whether in this number are included those under 
instruction in the Training Colleges does not appear to be 
stated in the Report. Before stating the number who came 
