E.—l2.

REPORT UPON STATE EDUCATION'.

VIII.—LONDON BOARD SCHOOLS AND THE REV. W. STAINER'S HOMKS. 1 Through the courtesy of the Rev. W. Stainer, 2 I visited with him two of the London Board deaf-mute schools, 3 cacli of which consists of boys and girls/' one in Winchester Street, Pcntonville North, and the other in Summerfield Street, Bethnal Green East. The latter one was cxjiressly selected because the building has been specially constructed as a model building for the purpose. It consists of four class-rooms, formed so as to afford more than ordinary light by means of skylights in addition to windows, in order that the lips may be narrowly watched," and so as to accommodate twelve pupils in a room. The teachers (thirteen) at the Board schools, who receive £80 a year, and the pupil-teachers (ten), who receive .€25 to £45 per annum 15 arc all, with one exception/ females; and the majority of the teachers have been trained either at Fitzroy Square or Ealing. Females, I may add, seem to be generally preferred, 8 as being more patient and sympathetic, 0 and procurable at lower salaries. The hours of instruction are every day (except on Saturday avid Sunday) from 9.15 a.m. to 1.2.30 p.m., and from 1.30 to 3.45 p.m.;'° the hour's interval being for the mid-day meal, which the children bring with them. 11 The fee charged is the same as in the other London Board schools, 2d. each per week. The classes are not examined, or inspected, by any Government Inspector, and no Government grant has been made for their support, or aid; 12 but the Superintendent reports half-yearly to the Board. "The children sit at speciallyconstructed desks, which are arranged in a circular form, so that they may easily observe the movements of the lips of their teachers and of each other —an important arrangement to facilitate lip-reading :" 13 and these desks arc designed after a pattern in use at Riehen, altered by the Rev. W. Stainer. Circular desks, however, arc not preferred, and therefore arc not to be found at Fitzroy Square, where the desks are placed longitudinally, with a slope on both sides, so that the children face each other, with the teacher at the top end. 11 At the circular desk the teacher sits outside of the circle, whilst objects forming the subject of objectlessons are placed in the centre, on a small table within the circle; and the number of pupils so taught at one time docs not usually exceed ten, which is in accordance with the declaration made at the Milan Congress : —■ " Considerant que I'cnscignement des sourds-muets par la parole a de particuliercs exigences; considerant les donnees de I'cxperience dc la presque unanimite des instituteurs des sourds-nmcts ; " Declare " Qu'un professeur ne pent enseigner efficacement avee la methode orale pure plus de 10 eleves." 15 A similar declaration had been made at the International Congress held in Paris in 1878; and the subject formed the second of the six questions submitted for discussion at Brussels, 10 which resulted in the following resolutions : — (1.) " Qu'au debut de l'enseignemcnt le nombrc des eleves a instruire par le meme professeur, et d'apres la methode orale pure, nc depasse par 8 a 10;" (2.) " Que, dans les classes superieures le nombre des eleves ne depasse pas 12." (3.) " Que l'enseignement mutuel ne soit pas admis." 17 But the majority of the teachers to whom I spoke seemed to hold that no teacher should have more than six or eight, at least in the elementary stages; ls and Mr. Van Praagh appears

London Board schools.

' For list and particulars of Metropolitan charities, see " Caution to Benefactors of Deaf and Dumb," 1885, compiled by Rev. W. Stainer. The deaf-mute population of London for 1886, is said to bo I,972—see Q.R., April, 1886, p. 63. Note recent presentations to him.—Q.R., April, 188G, p. 54. See also " School Guardian," 25 Feb., 1882, Art. by Canon Smith, " On a Visit to a Deaf and Dumb Board School." In the new school opened at Rueil in France, under Mr. Magnat as Director, the sexes are separated.—A.A., Oct., 1886, p. 286. Note Mr. Kinsey's remarks in Paper for Congress, 1.C.P., p. 100. 6 See Circular. ' Mr. Campbell. See Q.E., April, 1886, p. 54. 8 But experts are not unanimous upon this question. See, however, testimony to the ability and enthusiasm of lady teachers, by Dr. Buxton, Proceedings of Conference, London, July, 1885, p. 4 ; and

Note the relative numbers in Great Britain, 107 females as against 88 males in Table for Year 1885. —Proceedings, London Conference, July, 1885. 9 Note Mr. Kinsey's remark quoted in N.C. 10 See discussion at Brussels Congress, T.C., pp. 143-IGS. 11 See Circular. 11 See Circular. 13 See (a) Circular ; and (6) 1.C.P., Paper by Mr. Kinsey. 11 On School furniture, refer to— (a) Paper on "School Management," Proceedings, London Conference, July, 1885, p. 32 ; and (b) "Revue Internationale," as above, Feb., 1886, pp. 262 and 263. 15 C.8., p. 197, and I.CrP. 16 T.C., pp. G and 143-105. " See (a) T.C.; (6) I.C.P. See also (a) Prof. Bell's address A.A., Oct., 1884, p. 315; and (6) Mr. Kinsey's opinion C.R., p. 291. 1S Note also T.C., p. 145.

110