ABSTRACT
Mr. Wyndham Holgate's report of the Poor Law · schools of the Metropolitan district illustrates the en· lightened care which is now brought to bear on some of the large schools. Take for instance such a passage as the following: ''With a strong desire to combine interest and instruction in all the details of an institution life, I strongly advocate the introduction of musical drill into my schools, and it is now part of the recognised programme of most of my large girlts' and
infants' schools, its main ad vantages are physical development, improved order and obedience and a pleasant relaxation after school." A little further on, speaking of the value of training in domestic duties and handicrafts, 1\Ir. Holgate urges that such training should be looked upon as part of elementary education, "and that it should be imparted step by step with as great care for the children's capacity aR in any intellectual subject, by real teachers, and not, as I have reason to know does occasionally happen, by mere task masters." He refers to the teaching of Sloyd, as a. system the development of which he proposes to watch closely, in the hope that it may be possible to have it introduced in his schools. Speaking of women guardians Mr. Holgate says :
" In immediate connection with the enlightened views which are now held on the question of the administration of the Poor Law in relation to children, I, for one, welcome most heartily the increase which is to be noted iu the number of ladies returned to serve as Poor Law Guardians, and I am glad to say that almost all my large London schools have now one or more .upon their Boards. I feel that wherever in institution life there are female officers to be appointed and looked after, and girls and infants to be brought up and cared for, the thoughtful influence and motherly instincts of tJ.n educated woman are invaluable." · ·
The report of Mr. J. R. Mozley, the Inspector for the northern district refers to the help of the Girls' Friendly Society and a kindred Society of Catholic ladies in Lancashire and remarks that "this is one of the points iu which the girls have greater advantages than the bovs."
