First report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the endowed schools and hospitals (Scotland) : with evidence and appendix / [chairman, Sir Edward Colebrooke].

Scotland. Endowed Schools Commission.

Date:: 1873

Credit: First report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the endowed schools and hospitals (Scotland) : with evidence and appendix / [chairman, Sir Edward Colebrooke]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

38/790 (page 24)

$John 249. Mr. Lancaster.—In speaking of the Heriot out-door schools, and Gordon, 0{ tne question of fees, you said they must be regulated so as to avoid q_, 1 prejudice to any existing establishment—any good existing establish- ment ?—That was said, not of the out-door schools, but of the proposed secondary school. 250. What was in your mind when you said it was to be without prejudice to any existing establishment ?—It is evident that where there is a good existing school already, some care should be taken not to interfere with it: that is the spirit and intention of the Education Act. 251. You mean to say, that if endowments were to be applied so as to increase the higher instruction in a particular locality, it must be done so as not to affect existing higher education unnecessarily ?—Yes. 252. Mr. Ramsay.—Would you think it a good use of endowments, to apply them so that the fees charged in any school for the secondary in- struction should be at a rate so low that a working man might have his children educated in these branches ?—I think that is extremely desirable. 253. And that there is a great want of such schools?—There is. Therefore by all means let private endowments of schools for secondary education be encouraged. 254. Mr. Lancaster.—And in order to accomplish this object, private adventure schools for higher education must take their chance ?—Yes ; but subject to some consideration (I am not prepared to say what) for the case of very deserving schools already existing. As not unconnected with this point, let me add, that no one can see without high hopes of future benefit to the education of Edinburgh, the admirably organized and managed schools recently established by the Merchant Company. Dr. Cumming, examined. Dr. 255. The Chairman.—You are an Inspector of Schools under the Privy Cumming. Council ?—I am. 256. In what counties ?—I generally express it between the Tay and the Tweed ; that is to say, I have Perthshire and Berwickshire, and the districts lying between these. 257. You have not, in your official experience, had any opportunity of observing the hospital system in Scotland ?—No, I have not. 258. In country districts, have you visited any schools where there are local endowments ?—I scarcely recollect doing so. I don't think it. Of the schools which I inspected, four-fifths are Free Church schools connected with congregations, and the other fifth are subscription schools, mostly supported by individuals on the spot, and sometimes by a single individual. . 259. Have you had no opportunity of observing the effect ot endow- ments in country districts ?—I can scarcely say that I have directly, but I have had opportunities of knowing about them, especially in the northern districts. I should perhaps have mentioned that for a long time I inspected schools over all Scotland, so that I know a good deal about schools in the northern parts as well as in the district I have already mentioned. With respect particularly to the northern districts, I have good reason to believe that such bequests as the Dick Bequest have had a very material influence on the state of education in the country 260. In raising the standard of education ?—In raising the standard, and not merely the standard, but in securing qualified men, which is the$