APPENDIX, A.

APPENDIX, B.

EXCERPT from Seal of Cause and Charter of Erection of the Local Day-School Institution in the Parish of Saint George's, Edinburgh. Dated 2d January 1828.*

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"First, That a local day-school shall be established in the parish of Saint George's. Third, That its grand object shall be, in conformity to the original spirit and intention of our National Establishment of parochial schools, to give the children of the parish a religious education." Fourth, "That for this purpose, their education shall be so conducted, as to give to religion its paramount importance in their estimation, and its full effect on their mind and conduct. Not only shall they be instructed in the truths and precepts of Christianity as a separate science, by means of reading the Scriptures as a regular school-book, learning appropriate catechisms, &c.; but Christianity shall also be made, as far as it is practicable, to pervade all the secular and literary tuition which they receive. In which case it is evident, that they may be safely and beneficially intrusted with a much more liberal course of instruction than what the children of our population usually enjoy. When all the knowledge they acquire is guided by the authority, and sanctified by the influence of the Gospel, then the more knowledge that can be infused into them, the better will it be for elevating the tone of their dispositions, and securing the improvement of their characters. And, accordingly, while their education is made to embrace a greater number of objects, and a more extensive and accurate acquaintance with them than what is

* Referred to at page 79.

DR. A. THOMSON ON PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS. 305

common even in this country, care shall be strictly and uniformly taken both in the books that are put into their hands, and in the oral instructions conveyed to them by their Teachers, that all the objects of nature, all the events of Providence, and all the varieties of character to which their attention is directed, shall be associated with sentiments of enlightened piety, and lessons of moral virtue. Fifth, That it shall form an essential and indispensable part of the Teacher's duty, to take charge of the children when they are out of school, as well as when they are in it. And that, with this view, he shall frequently visit the families from which they come, in order to ascertain their disposition and behaviour; to find out the true causes of their absence from school; to inquire after them when they are sick; to learn what application they give to their school exercises in private; how they spend the Sabbath; what company they keep; in what manner they behave to their parents; and, in short, all the particulars which may enable the Teacher to suit his admonitions to the peculiar temper, habits, and circumstances of the children. Sixth, That the Teacher shall keep an evening school, for the benefit of those boys who, from being apprentices, or from any other cause, cannot attend through the day; and that with them a plan similar to that which is adopted in the day-school shall be pursued, accommodated, however, to their greater age and attainments. They shall be taught the higher branches of Arithmetic, Bookkeeping, and elements of Mechanics, &c., as they may require it for their own gratification, or for the trades and professions they are to follow in life. But on no account shall the exercises of religion be dispensed with in the case of those grown-up boys, any more than in the case of the children attending the dayschool. Their improvement in sacred knowledge and holy sentiment shall be an object of primary consideration; and the Teacher shall lose no opportunity of enforcing upon them the principles of Christian faith and Christian practice, as deserving their highest regard. Seventh, That in the matter of discipline, though it shall not be understood that all punishment is to be abolished, yet, that the law of kindness shall be principally employed to secure industry, order, and good conduct among the children. Great care shall be taken, in the first instance, by method and

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management, to prevent idleness and other causes of offence; that when offence is committed, the Teacher's appeal shall be rather to the good sense and generous feeling of the children, than to their fears of suffering; and that in his expressions of displeasure or of commendation, he shall pay more regard to diligence and proper behaviour, than to mere cleverness and proficiency." "Ninth, That there shall be small libraries connected with the school; one for the more advanced children of the day-school, and one for the pupils of the eveningschool. The books shall be in perfect consistency with the general plan and character of the school, as a seminary for religious and moral, as well as literary instruction."

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APPENDIX, C.

EXTRACT from Statistical Account of the Parish of Ellon, by the Rev. Dr. JAMES ROBERTSON.*

WHILE the imperfect education of the poorer classes, arising from irregular attendance at school, &c., cannot but prove prejudicial to their interests in after life, nor fail to exert, where its natural consequences are not averted, a pernicious influence on their religious and moral condition, it seems questionable, in taking a comprehensive view of the present state of society, whether the more complete education enjoyed by persons in less depressed circumstances be attended with all the beneficial consequences that ought to result from it. That the cultivation of the intellectual powers of the human mind has attained, in respect of the great body of society, a higher degree of eminence than what it occupied at any former period of history, cannot be denied; but it certainly is not to be inferred, from any data afforded by the existing state of things, that society has undergone a corresponding improvement in the higher departments of religion and morals. On the contrary, the opinion is daily gaining ground, and seems to have a foundation in truth, that in these all-important respects, at least a very large section of the social body has become deteriorated. Indeed, no intelligent observer of men and manners can fail to remark the growing prevalence of a sensuous philosophy, inconsistent alike with that stern selfrespect, and that high resolve of unconquerable faith, which

* Referred to in pages 81-85.