0 10 0 THE Committee of the National Society will resume its Meetings early in November. New Subscriptions. The following Donations and new Annual Subscriptions have been contributed since the last announcement, and are hereby thankfully acknowledged. The List is made up to the 20th September. H.M. Ship Highflyer 10 10 0 Collecting-box, by Mr. Robinson, Kentmere, Kendal a.£1 10 5 06 DIOCESE OF EXETER. Ottery St. Mary. Coleridge, Mrs. William. a. 1 00 Coleridge, F. J. Esq. a. 0 10 0 Coleridge, A. Esq. a. 0 10 6. Hunt, Rev. E. G. a. 0 10 0 Piper, S. Esq. Newmarket Fardell, Rev. G. Banham 1 10 Contributions may be paid to Messrs. DRUMMOND, Bankers, Charing Cross; to Mr. HENRY STRETTON, the Society's Receiver, 67 Lincoln's Inn Fields, to whom all Remittances should be made; or they will be received at the National Society's Office, Sanctuary, Westminster, or by any of the Local Treasurers to the Society, or by the Society's Travelling Agents. Organising. It is with much regret that Mr. Flint, late one of the Organising Masters of this Society, is compelled to decline answering any more letters on School-matters addressed to him through this office by clergy, teachers, and others. Although his efforts in another department of the Society's labours have not entirely ceased,— and he would gladly render any assistance in his power to those with whom the VOL. X. L operations of the Society have brought him into contact in past years,—yet his present duties in the diocese of Lichfield demand as much of his time as can well be devoted to work. It is, therefore, with great reluctance that he is obliged for the present to take leave of so many old and valued friends of the Society. Some letters on Schools have lately come to hand, and will be gradually answered as soon as possible. Diocese of Lincoln. HARVEST-MEETING OF TEACHERS AT SOUTHWELL, NOTTINGHAM. Central School, Westminster, September 17, 1856. REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I have much pleasure in communicating to you the following particulars respecting the harvest-meeting of Church-teachers at Southwell, in connection with which you appointed me to act as organising master. This important educational gathering commenced on the 18th of August, under the auspices of the Rev. J. Murray Wilkins, M.A., Rector of Southwell and Rural Dean, and was continued during the ensuing fortnight. About thirty schoolmasters, mistresses, and pupil-teachers assembled in the National schoolrooms, the first morning being spent in entering names, with particulars respecting their several schools, and in arranging classes, time-tables, &c. Regular work was begun in the afternoon, and was continued from day to day according to the following programme: Reading, with grammar, parsing, &c. 3.30. Arithmetic, mensuration, algebra, &c. 7.30. Tea and relaxation. 7.30, 9. Conversational discussions on school-management. On Thursday afternoons, practice of teaching with a class of children. It was very pleasing to observe the good-will and earnestness with which teachers of all ages, and of widely different capabilities, seized upon the opportunity thus afforded them, and applied themselves to the task of self-improvement. In no way was the value of the meeting more apparent than in the constant readiness manifested by those who had received the benefit of previous training to assist those who had been less fortunate. And it will be easily understood how such intercourse must result, not merely in personal improvement on each special subject, but in all that enlargement of view, and intelligent interest for the work and its object, which always wait on concerted action and comparison of experience. 99.66 99 66 The conversational discussions on school-management, and the practice of teaching with a class of children, were very much appreciated. The principal subjects brought forward by the teachers were the following: the best methods of giving "Religious instruction;" of teaching "Reading," "Grammar,' Geography," Landmeasuring," "Vocal music," "Writing," &c.; "Home-lessons," how to secure "Regular attendance," 'Punishments," "Sunday schools," &c.; upon most of which subjects some practical conclusions were adopted at the different sittings. The lessons given to the children were also criticised on these occasions, and I had the pleasure of noticing a very marked improvement in the subsequent efforts of those schoolmasters who undertook to teach. 66 99 66 The Rev. D. Melville, Rector of Shelsley, and Hon. Canon of Worcester, preached in the collegiate church on behalf of the National Society, and of the Nottinghamshire Diocesan Board of Education; and on the next day read to the teachers a valuable paper on Religious teaching." An instructive lecture was also given by W. W. Fyfe, Esq., of the Nottinghamshire Guardian, on the "Teaching of agriculture in. schools,"- a subject with which that gentleman appeared to be very intimately acquainted. On one of the afternoons appointed for class teaching the Ven. Archdeacon Wilkins attended, and gave the children an interesting lesson on "Biography," and on other occasions also gave his valuable assistance. The neighbouring clergy, and others, including Lord A. E. Hill, M.P., and W. H. Barrow, Esq., M P., by their frequent visits, by presents to the masters' table, and in other ways, manifested their interest in the proceedings. But the great success of the meeting was mainly due to the untiring exertions of the Rev. J. Murray Wilkins, whose admirable arrangements for the personal comfort of all concerned, and con stant kind attention and sympathy during the whole fortnight, were deeply felt both by the teachers and myself. On the last evening we had a social party in one of the schoolrooms, at which the teachers insisted on presenting us with tokens of their esteem and respect; and thus ended a meeting which appeared to leave so favourable an impression upon all who joined in it, that, should such a gathering be repeated next year, the numbers in attendance would probably be at least doubled.-I am, &c. W. F. RICHARDS, The Rev. the Secretary, National Society. Diocese of Lichfield. ARCHDEACONRY OF DERBY. Educational Conference of Clergy and Teachers. An educational conference of clergy and teachers took place at Derby, in the National Schoolroom, Curzon Street, on Friday and Saturday, the 12th and 13th of September. It was convened under the auspices of the Archidiaconal Board of Education, for the purpose of bringing together persons interested in the work of Church-education, with a view to their affording each other the benefit of their experience in educational matters. The discussion during the two days was conducted by the Rev. J. Latham, B.D., Prebendary of Lichfield, Chaplain of the Derby Training College, and Secretary of the Board. The chair was occupied on Friday by the Ven. Archdeacon Hill, and on Saturday by the Rev. W. F. Wilkinson. Among those who, in addition to the teachers present, took a prominent part in the conference were, the Ven. Archdeacon Hill, the Rev. Prebendary Latham, the Rev. W. F. Wilkinson, of St. Werburgh's; the Rev. R. Hey, Rural Dean and Inspectional Secretary of the Archdeaconry; the Rev. J. Moss; Mr. Flint, Assistant Inspector of Schools in the Archdeaconry, the Rev. J. Casson, &c. The questions which were discussed on Friday were as follows: 1. The principles on which a time-table for four classes should be constructed. 2. The best way of correcting exercises in dictation. 3. The best order according to which Old and New Testament subjects may be read and explained in schools. 4. How far a half-time system is likely to succeed in rural districts in keeping boys at school for a longer period than they remain at present, and what prospect there is of inducing employers and parents to adopt it. 5. Is it desirable that the payment to male pupil-teachers should be increased; and if so, would it be well for schoolmasters to memorialise the Committee of Council on the subject? 6. How may the moral and religious tone of a school be ascertained at an examination by an inspector or rural dean? 7. The best method of dealing with "late-comers" in a Sunday-school when the teacher has no control over them in the week-days. 8. The best method of teaching reading. The discussion was then brought to a conclusion for the first day. At five o'clock in the evening nearly 200 persons sat down to tea in the Temperance Hall, Curzon Street; after which a lecture was read by the Rev. S. A. Pears, Master of the Repton School, on "The best method of imparting religious instruction." During the evening several pieces of music were admirably sung by the students of the Derby Training College, assisted by a few of the male teachers present. Sunday-school teachers were admitted to the lecture free of charge. On Saturday morning the conference was resumed, and the following questions were discussed: 9. To what extent, and in what way, should needlework be taught? 10. The best method of keeping school-registers. 11. What are the best means for securing the regular and continued attendance of children at school until they are entitled to a "scholar's certificate?" 12. The best lessons for home-study; and how far it is desirable for children to purchase books for their own use. 13. Can it be made practicable for the teachers of large schools in towns to have their liberty on Sunday, so that by resting on that day their physical powers may be better fitted to engage in work on the Monday? Before the meeting separated, teachers who came from a distance of more than ten miles received the amount of their travelling expenses as paid by the Board. The thanks of the teachers were given to the Rev. J. Latham for his able exertions in arranging the preliminary measures for the meeting, and in conducting the discussion. A like testimony was paid to the Ven. Archdeacon Hill, on Friday evening, for his kindness in presiding, and showing such great interest in the proceedings. A visitor, on going into the room in Curzon Street, and remaining for only a few moments, must have been struck with the serious interest and earnest looks of the teachers as each point passed under notice, and with the marked kindness of feeling and strong sympathy which they showed for each other and each other's work. It is to be hoped that the gathering next year may be still more numerous than the one which has just taken place. The following memorial was drawn up by the schoolmasters: "To the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education. The respectful memorial of the undersigned schoolmasters of schools in the county of Derby showeth, that the efficiency of the schoolmaster, and the success of his school, will be found generally to correspond with his previous character and qualifications as a pupil-teacher, and that therefore it is of great importance that good boys of talent and promise should be selected for pupil-teachers. That your memorialists are often unable to obtain for pupil-teachers the most promising boys in their schools, because the parent thinks he can find other employment for his boy equally or more remunerative, and involving less risk of failure; and because he cannot, without much inconvenience, wait twelve or thirteen months before he knows whether he is to receive any payment for his boy's services. Your memorialists therefore humbly pray your Lordships, first, to make an addition to the first and second year's payments to male pupil-teachers, thus making a distinction in favour of the male apprentices, as in the case of Queen's scholars and certificated teachers; and secondly, to make arrangements for the quarterly payment of pupil-teachers, as in the case of Queen's scholars. These arrangements, it is submitted, may be so contrived as to keep alive the interest and diligence of the apprentices throughout the year better than by the present system." [We hope to find room in a future Number for an outline of Mr. Pears's lecture, read at the meeting on Friday evening. We take this opportunity of thanking the Chaplain of the Derby Training College for recommending this journal to the notice of the teachers present at the conference.-ED. M. P.] Winchester Diocesan Board. The Report of this Board states that, although its operations have not during the fifteen months ending Lady-day last been marked with visible results, there are no just grounds for doubting the usefulness of its labours. Owing to the pupil-teacher system being insufficient as a nursery for the training-schools, Winchester, in common with many other institutions, had not been more than about half filled. The exhibitions offered by the Board had been equally unsuccessful in inducing suitable persons to offer themselves for training. The highest number of pupils in training at any one time during the year had not exceeded twenty; and these, with six exceptions, had left at Christmas for situations. There are now fifteen students in training, the whole of the pupil-teachers who offered themselves for examination at Winchester having obtained Queen's scholarships. A review of the three last examinations of students for certificates yields the following comparative estimate: 68·1, 72.2, 93 per cent. The Winchester Training School for Masters receives pupils from the diocese of Salisbury, and the Salisbury Training School for Mistresses receives pupils from Winchester. The Report states: "There were twenty-one pupils in connection with this diocese in the Diocesan Training School for Mistresses in Salisbury during the year 1855. Of these, thirteen left in the course of it, twelve being classed after examination, and eight have been engaged in schools in this diocese. Five pupils were added after Christmas last; so that with the eight remaining there are now thirteen pupils connected with the diocese in that training school. The report of the Rev. F. C. Cook, her Majesty's Inspector, on Female Training Schools, bears ample and deserved testimony to the labours of Mrs. Duncan and her associates." The Report further states, that "Lord Ashburton has deserved the thanks of the two dioceses for his renewed encouragement of the cultivation of the science of common things. A competitive examination for these prizes was held at our own and the Sarum Training School in June last. Mr. C. Gedge, the schoolmaster of Brighstone, Isle of Wight, formerly a pupil in our training school, obtained the first schoolmaster's prize (157.); and the male student's prize of 81. was awarded to H. Fabian: 77. was munificently added to the 77. originally offered for a second master's prize, which was divided between A. Clark, of St. Maurice (a second time successful); J. Macfarland, of Petersfield; and J. Rymer, of Bitterne. The Board is bound to acknowledge also the stimulus given to the study of drawing in the training school by two distributions of prizes, both last year and the preceding, after the Christmas examinations, by the Department of Science and Art. On the former occasion, Thomas Winser, George Parsons, James Rymer, Henry Fabian, William Elderfield, George Spanner, George Price, Charles Gamblin (the first and third were masters unconnected with the training school), received each a case of mathematical instruments. On the latter similar prizes were presented by the Department to four pupils,-Walter Leache, William Pratt, Henry Withers, and William Marlow,-for their performances." The thanks of the Board are given to several gentlemen who have assisted in the diocesan examinations, and in the superintendence of the Christmas examination. Thanks are also accorded to the Rev. Canon Moseley. The Board invite the clergy to send in the names of boys and girls whom they wish to get placed as pupil-teachers; and also invite applications for pupil-teachers. The master of St. Cross has accepted the office of treasurer of disbursements. A committee, consisting of the Archdeacon of Winchester, and others, with the Rev. A. Crowdy as secretary, has reported the result of their endeavours to ascertain by what means the Sunday-school system could be beneficially improved and extended in the diocese." A digest of this Report has been printed for general distribution. "None of the Board's labours give promise of happier results than those connected with the Sunday-school movement. The thirty-two conferences which have been held under the Archdeacon's, and in one instance the Bishop's own direction, throughout the county of Hants, have been full of interest. It has been shown that this county is capable of attaining the optimist standard in respect to Sundayschools;' and the desires of the clergy were elicited most unmistakably for improving their Sunday-schools. The deficiency in the organising and training of Sundayschool teachers was evident, and suggestions were made for their better direction in the subjects of their teaching. It became evident also that too few classes for teaching adults were in existence, and that the duty of the laity to co-operate with the clergy in instructing their ignorant fellow-Christians had, in too rare instances, been pressed on the minds of the Church at large. Returns received at the Archdeacon's visitation from 297 out of 392 places showed that, with proper encouragement and counsel, the desired co-operation could be obtained. The Sunday-school conferences which the Archdeacon has been prosecuting with such earnest zeal through the county since this report was made confirm its very sanguine hopes. To use the language of the Bishop in his pastoral letter on confirmation, The desire of caring more for those around them has been awakened in many, the social and relative duties have been developed, and the figure of the body and the members has been realised to an extent which may lead, under God's blessing, to the most hopeful results.' The Board may well consider itself honoured by being made in some measure instrumental in carrying out this fresh attempt to bring the mind of the adult Christian into holy contact with the less instructed in divine things, though as yet it has contributed to the work more its name and influence than funds (the sum of 10l. only having been expended upon it), and will be ready, according to its ability, to forward it, in humble reliance on the grace and blessing of Almighty God. The inspection of schools, without interfering with the ordinary ecclesiastical authorities, has been considered one of the objects for which the Board was constituted from the very first, and various efforts have been made to carry it out. In the year 1841 the first attempt at systematic inspection was by means of an inspector of the National Society. But after examining and reporting on 112 schools he resigned, and no successor was appointed. The benefits of inspection were too evident not to make the Board very desirous of securing, if possible, its periodical recurrence. And |