I. Reports APPENDIX E. ployment being plain work, the excellence of which continues to command the warmest approval. At the yearly public meeting of the Committee and friends of the institution, it was stated by the patron, A. S. Adair, Esq., M.P., (by the kind instrumentality and assiduous attention of whose lady the work is disposed of in London,) that it was generally pronounced too Ballymena. good, in quality of execution, for the rate of remuneration that work of this description could command. The male and female Teachers are the same who have conducted these schools since they opened, and they continue to give undiminished satisfaction. Their salaries,, including £32 from the "Commissioners of National Education," amount to £58 per annum, together with apartments, and an allowance of ten per cent. upon the profits of their respective departments. This does not include £8 paid to the assistant workmistress, or small sums given in gratuities to a few of the most deserving boys from the same source. In both schools literary instruction is carried on for three hours daily; industrial employment occupying six. The condition of the schools in the former point of view is very satisfactory. The total number of admissions from the commencement has been 160; during the past year, 35. There are now upon the books 20 boys and 33 girls. I have not thought it necessary to give a tabular return of the accounts, as by the arrangement already alluded to, they have been rendered somewhat complicated for a cursory observer; and, besides, I have already, in my former Report, described their state up to May last. Suffice it to say that, over and above all claims and charges, there remains a small balance in the Treasurer's hands, and the Committee are now about to collect one year's subscriptions, being the first collection that has been made for more than two years past. The original object of the institution has frequently before been adverted to. Happily the improved condition of the country, and the restoration of comparative prosperity, have somewhat altered the scope of its plan; and the Committee now gladly look forward to a more agreeable result of their labours, in affording that most suitable of all education to the very poor, which shall combine a thorough training in pursuits likely to contribute to a livelihood hereafter, and make the children educated in this establishment something better and more valuable than mere "raw material," when they are sufficiently old to admit of their looking to the labour market for a maintenance. I remain, Gentlemen, your very obedient Servant, Secretaries. FRANCIS W. NEWELL, Inspector of National Schools. No. 2.-REPORT on the LANCASTERIAN INDUSTRIAL NATIONAL APPENDIX E. SCHOOL (for females), at BELFAST, in the County of Antrim.- I. Reports Visited on the 18th December, 1851, and being for the year of District 1851. Belfast, 31st December, 1851. The apartments connected with this establishment form a portion of the "Lancasterian School-house," an extensive building, in Frederick-street. That occupied as a schoolroom, and in which the pupils receive both industrial and literary instruction, is spacious and comfortable, being sixty feet in length, thirty-two in breadth, and twelve in height; well lighted and ventilated; and having a sufficiency of suitable furniture. The dining-hall, kitchen, and wash-house, are well adapted for their respective uses. At present there are three principal teachers and one assistant to superintend the different departments combined in this school; the duty devolving on each, and the annual salary, paid by the Commissioners of National Education, and by the Committee, will appear from the subjoined table. INDUSTRIAL DEPARTMENT. Mrs. Todd, Salary from Committee, £31 0 0 With furnished apartments and fuel. 0 0 Miss Barringer, Salary from Committee, £52 0 0 £41 0 0 £52 0 0 Mrs. Todd has charge of the more general branches, such as sewing, knitting, netting, and the cutting out and making up of female apparel, shirts, &c. The housekeeping devolves on her, and all the stores and other property are placed under her care. Miss Barringer is engaged at one branch-the training of part of the pupils to manufacture British lace. She is a native of Ravenstown, in Buckinghamshire, where several years were spent by her in acquiring a perfect knowledge of this lace-work. She commenced here in October last. Inspectors on Lancasterim. Miss Orr was trained at the Normal School, Marlboroughstreet, Dublin, and is well qualified for the situation she holds. APPENDIX E. Miss Burnett is rather a temporary assistant, and cannot be retained unless the National Board make a grant of salary, in addition to that paid her by the Committee. I. Reports Inspectors on The servants kept in the establishment are two:—a cook, who, in addition to the usual duties, superintends the children Schools. while washing the floors, and otherwise assisting in keeping Lancasterian. the house in proper order-she receives 48. per week and rations; and a laundress manages the washing department, instructs the more advanced pupils in this business, and sces that the children are clean and neat every morning before they proceed to the school-room-she receives £4 per annum and rations. The children admitted to this establishment are selected from the humblest classes in the community, and particularly from families where education is neglected. With few exceptions they are lamentably ignorant, seldom knowing anything of the mere elements of needlework and knitting. Such being their state, they are unable to make any adequate return for the food, clothing, and education afforded them; and wages are never thought of. The school is a "training-room," and, as such, has been most useful. On Saturdays the period for Industrial Training is taken up in teaching all the younger children to "mend and darn" their clothes. DIETARY TABLE. Breakfast, every day. oatenmeal porridge (stirabout) and milk. Tuesdays and Fridays, broth and meat, with bread. Wednesdays, potatoes and milk. Saturdays, Indian-meal pudding, with sance. Sundays, cocoa, with sugar and milk, and bread. Previously to leaving for their homes, in the evening, each receives a slice of bread, over 4 lb. in weight. This fare must agree well with the children, as sickness is of rare occurrence. During the year 1851 the highest number on the books was APPENdix E. 101; the average daily attendance, seventy-nine. The an- I. Reports nexed table sets forth the classification of the children pre- of District sent on the 18th December, 1851. Inspectors on The making up of clothing for themselves, and for such of the pupils as are unable, from want of knowledge, to work for themselves, has formed the principal, if not the sole occupation of the children, during the year, in this department. The foregoing is the arrangement appearing on the Register and Class-rolls; and, so far as I could judge, the Teacher has been at pains to classify the pupils strictly according to the proficiency of each. As regards the accounts, they have been kept accurately, and according to the prescribed forms. Of the eighty-nine pupils present, seventy-seven are under eleven years of age, seven are between twelve and thirteen years, one is fourteen, three are fifteen, and one is sixteen years. Again, since January, 1851, sixty children were admitted, of whom forty remain-twenty having left; this shows the fluctuating state of the attendance. The majority of those who left the institution during the year, went to be servants or workers in the manufactories; and the seventy-seven, represented above as under eleven years of age, may be expected, in another twelve months or so, to follow the same course. The object in view among the supporters of this institution will be best explained by quoting the following, from the "rules of the school." APPENDIX E. Miss Burnett is rather a temporary assistant, and cannot be retained unless the National Board make a grant of salary, in addition to that paid her by the Committee. I. Reports Inspectors on The servants kept in the establishment are two:—a cock, who, in addition to the usual duties, superintends the chilire while washing the floors, and otherwise assisting in keeping Lancasterian. the house in proper order-she receives 48. per week and rations; and a laundress manages the washing department, instructs the more advanced pupils in this business, and sees that the children are clean and neat every morning before they proceed to the school-room-she receives £4 per annum rations. and The children admitted to this establishment are selected from the humblest classes in the community, and particularly from families where education is neglected. With few exceptions they are lamentably ignoraut, seldom knowing suy thing of the mere elements of needlework and knitting. Such being their state, they are unable to make any adequate return for the food, clothing, and education afforded them; and wages are never thought of. The school is a "training-room,” and, as such, has been most useful. On Saturdays the period for Industrial Training is taken up in teaching all the younger children to "mend and dara" their clothes. DIETARY TABLE. Breakfast, every day. oatenmcal porridge (stirabout) and milk. Tuesdays and Fridays, broth and meat, with bread. Wednesdays, potatoes and milk. Saturdays, Indian-meal pudding, with sance. Sundays, cocoa, with sugar and milk, and bread. Previously to leaving for their homes, in the evening, each receives a slice of bread, over 4 lb. in weight. This fare must agree well with the children, as sickness is of rare occurrence. |