XVI.-OPEN COUNCIL.

[As these pages are intended for general discussion, the Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed.]

THE PROFESSION OF THE TEACHER.*

It would argue but a small amount of womanly feeling in any of the sex, if the prospects of this important class, as set forth in the article on which this paper would venture to offer a few remarks, should awaken no sympathy. The statements contained in the melancholy report of the Governesses' Benevolent Institution are certainly sufficient to make one tremble for the future of any beloved child or sister who shall adopt the onerous profession of a teacher as the means of livelihood; nor can nor ought such solicitude to be confined to the members of one's own family. The great question is, what should be done to obviate the peril of destitution or dependence on charity when the energies fail, and the powers mental and physical sink under the weight of years.

The complaint of the article is that the market for Teachers is over-supplied, and that this state of things "has re-acted on the custom of the employers, who have set their ideas to a certain scale; and if they educate their children at home, refuse to pay beyond a certain percentage on the whole family income for instruction."-Page 8.

It may be here remarked that in the 'Waverly' it was a little while ago complained that cheap schools were required for the daughters of the middle classes; and if cheap schools be required, the doctrine of cheap governesses will follow as a matter of course. It is almost certain that the families of middle-class tradesmen would be better educated at school than at home: there would be less interference with the teacher from the frequent deficiency of judgment in the parents, and, provided the school is conducted in a Christian spirit, the excitement of a healthy emulation is more easy than amongst the sisters of the same family. If two or three sisters or two or three friends can agree to keep together a respectable day-school in any neighbourhood, they would have a greater chance of permanency, and of the realization of a sufficient income, than if they each took a separate situation. In the organization of such schools the different talents of the two or three governesses might be benefically employed, and there would be less necessity that one should know everything and teach everything, which is, generally speaking, a vain expectation. All indeed should be able to teach their own language well; all should be able to instruct in the principles of religion; but all need not be required to teach German, French, or music. The division of labour would be beneficial every way, and would probably tend to unity of object, namely, that each should teach well what she professed to teach, as having more opportunity for self-improvement in her particular branch of instruction. In large cities, where a great number of tradesmen of fair average means are to be found in one district, would it be unreasonable to find as many as forty who would be disposed to place their children at school in their own * See article in the first number of the English Woman's Journal.' VOL. I.

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neighbourhood at 67. a year for a good English education, including geography, history, writing, and arithmetic, and a due attention to useful needlework, which would not exclude ornamental, that being also useful? Then the income of the school, without extras for fuel in the winter, books, stationery, &c., would be 2401. As a general rule it may be anticipated that music would be added to the English studies, or, if not music, French. Music at 41. per annum for half the number of pupils would add 807. to the 2407., making 3207.; the remaining twenty would no doubt learn French, say at 31. per annum, adding 607. more to the income, 3801. It is not at all improbable that drawing or German might also be an object to a moiety of the pupils, and these accomplishments at 37. or 47. each would add 607. or 80l., making 4401. or 460l. per annum. Could not three young or middle-aged ladies conduct such a school? and could they not live on 2607. including house-rent, acting as the members of one family for the common interest, and therefore determining not to spend more than such an amount, or at all events not more than 300l.? Then they could lay by 1607. in a bank, or apply it to the purchase of annuities in each other's favour. Suppose such an association to be entered into, life permitting, &c., for, say twenty years; the sisterhood would then have realised 32007., besides the interest, which I do not calculate, and each would be entitled to an equal share. With these funds each could certainly purchase an annuity, or lend it on mortgage, or otherways employ it, so as to secure old age from want. Boarding-schools are generally too expensive for the daughters of tradesmen of the average income here contemplated; and if they were not too expensive, they have other objections to which I venture here to refer. First, they take a daughter of the middle classes too entirely away from home associations and domestic duties. The long absence also makes her too much of a wonder when she returns, and unseemly vanity and conceit are in danger of being generated in the youthful mind, not duly balanced by the teachings of experience. A mother's eye is, after all, better than a governess's in many of the actual experiences of young girls; and the opportunities which a daughter from twelve to fifteen has of assisting younger sisters in their early efforts should not be lost sight of, and might indeed with great propriety be brought to bear upon her mind as a positive duty, if the family be large and the income of the father moderate. The health of daughters is of great moment to the comfort of mothers, and in this particular the parent of four or five can much more efficiently superintend it than the principal of a boarding-school with thirty or forty. Then the great expense of travelling is avoided, and the dress can be more economically managed, for in boarding-schools there must be always more or less of emulation in this respect, an emulation which no one can desire to encourage. I know there are many persons who consider a day-school as a less dignified establishment, so to speak, than a boarding-school. I cannot, for my part, entertain such an idea. The character of the instructresses will always be sufficient to fix, beyond question, the respectability of the establishment when it is once known; and the risk of debt is so much less to all the parties concerned, that, in these times of difficulty and necessary caution as to all expenditure, it appears much the more desirable of the two systems. It really combines the advantages of school with the comforts of home, the daily and domestic duties of girl-life with the intercourse of enlightened and accomplished minds, ever regarding their pupils, not as show-girls to astonish each little community into which they must enter, but as members of a family who shall constantly feel the growth of their minds contributing to the pleasure of all, but inciting neither envy nor dislike in any by the vain display of intellectual attainment or of

fashionable accomplishments. Could not many neighbourhoods in London be found where such schools might be established? I should certainly think the inquiry worth making.

MADAM,

S. E. MILES.

I think the following suggestion may be considered worthy of a place in your 'Journal,' as it is especially addressed to "Englishwomen." The plan has been already tried for some months by the lady who proposes it, and much success has attended it. She says the improvement in the behaviour and manuers of her pupils is very great, from the softening influence that is brought to bear on poor wild creatures who have never felt its power before. Even in such as these there is a natural perception of what is ladylike and befitting a lady. The teacher went one evening in an old dress, as her scholars were of the dirtiest description, and they pointed out to her a hole in it, which their sharp eyes discovered; they also evidently felt hurt at her putting on her glove before shaking hands with them. Surely this will lead to their becoming more neat and cleanly in their own persons and dress, when they perceive the value of this in the eyes of one whom they love and respect. I would also add a word especially in behalf of the boys of this class, who may be even more materially benefited than girls by the influence of ladies, This lady took a class of boys at a Sunday-school in a distant country town, who had been given up as hopelessly bad by several clergymen, and in a few months the Sunday-school became a daily evening assembly, the boys often exclaiming, "Oh Teacher! I wish you would stay all day!" If stories were read and pictures shown to boys who could not at first be expected to settle down into the routine of school work, it would be a preparation for much good, and a powerful assistance to regular schools. The hundreds who run about the streets uncared for and with nothing to cultivate good principles would amply reward any such teaching as is suggested, and we commend the plan to all who have the hearts to engage in it; the time and the opportunities will not be wanting when women learn to see what powerful influences for good are placed in their hands for reclaiming and guarding from vice those who will in a few years be beyond our reach, and perhaps lost beyond recall.

Your obedient servant,

The AUTHORESs of 'Metropolitan Workhouses and their Inmates.' London, March 5, 1858.

THE HOME HELP FOR NEGLECTED CHILDREN.

It is proposed to open rooms in various streets of the Metropolis where neglected children may be assembled in groups of fifteen or twenty at a time, for two or three hours every afternoon.

These meetings are not to be substitutes for schools, but may be attended by "Ragged School" children after school-hours, for reading, needlework, &c, It is proposed that pence should be accepted from the children, for the purchase of clothing.

It is proposed to tell the children instructive and entertaining stories; to read and converse with them, and thus to lead them to delight in occupation; to refine their imaginations and ordinary language, and brighten their understanding that they may understand what they are about. Books and work are to be given to take home, with permission to sell both to their poor neighbours,. each girl receiving a small sum for her work, with liberty to purchase it at cost price. The children will thus be taught to benefit others, which will soon give them additional interest in working.

Every care will be taken to give such instruction as will promote true religion, home comfort, home affections, and friendship amongst each other.

It is also proposed in the same rooms to have a class of young women, and another of mothers, for Bible reading, that these poor people may feel they have a friend in a better position in society, and thus be linked to the upper classes.

The wants of each can be tenderly and kindly entered into, and the real character better understood, in these small reunions, than in the larger meetings; plans of improvement can be talked over, and hope and cheerfulness, with trust in God, encouraged both by word and manner.

The home of each child should be visited, and the families gradually led to the Communion of the Church.

Each room should be attended by two or three ladies, in turn, so that the work may not press too heavily on any one.

The expenses being divided amongst the ladies, the cost to each would be trifling.

One advantage of this plan would be, that no great outlay would be required in the first instance. A room at four or five shillings a week, with a table, a few benches, and a few books, would suffice to begin with, and no responsibility would be incurred beyond a week's rent. Another advantage would be, that the most miserable women or children could, at once, be taken from the streets, when to admit them to a private home would be impossible.

The Ragged Schools do much, but much more must be done to form a good character in a child.

The promoter of this plan is persuaded from her own experience that, if steadily and extensively carried out, by working quietly in many places at once, it would produce the most beneficial results.

Each lady might be in communication with some clergyman, a true pastor, to whose spiritual care and watchfulness she could commend her own pupils. The tone of mind would be gradually improved, the heart prepared for devout understanding of God's holy word and sacraments, and more beneficial and refining effect would be produced by constant care bestowed on small groups than could be looked for in larger and more public meetings, even with more elaborate system and more regular routine.

The same system for men and boys would also work very beneficially under the care of gentlemen.

The rooms should in every case be in respectable streets, and in well-ordered houses.

In order to lift up the human mind, it should be understood that wisdom descends from above, though her voice be heard in the streets.

By

Aid in carrying out this plan may be rendered in various ways. sympathy and co-operation; by donations of money; by gifts of new or old clothing; or, by bestowing time only on the instruction at the rooms, or in visiting at the homes.

Those who may feel a kind interest, leading to further inquiry into this scheme, are invited to communicate by letter with the "Lady Teacher," who will be happy to meet any ladies by appointment, at the School-room, No. 7, Victoria Street, Paddington Green, W.

December 16th, 1857.

The Teacher has thought it better for children so scantily clothed, to let it be understood she does not attend the Room on wet evenings.

XVII.-PASSING EVENTS.

IT has been said that the nation may be regarded as happy whose annals offer little to record; and if it be so, we may have some reason to claim the character of felicity for the past month, since it presents scarcely a single public event that can be fairly considered a new one.

Physical nature indeed has supplied us with an earthquake and an eclipse; but the earthquake, which only destroyed the city of Corinth, was but a poor attempt when compared with the grand exploit at Naples of last year; and as for the eclipse, the disappointment experienced respecting it appears to be mingled with something like indignation. The sun, after shining for two or three weeks with more than his accustomed splendour, withdrew for that day only behind a thick veil of clouds, and did not even afford the Times' a private view," though it had, as it stated the following day, "opened its columns freely " to the puffs preliminary of the astronomers. No wonder if it felt itself aggrieved.

We had time, just before the publication of our last number, briefly to note the change of ministry, and the capture of Canton, including that of the truculent barbarian Commissioner Yeh; and Lord Derby and his colleagues are still in the honeymoon of office, and Yeh is still in custody on board the Inflexible. To attempt to discuss the probable course of the new government would be to enter on the arena of party politics, which is entirely out of our province; and in this case Lord Derby's own son has declared that, "as to the future, even the immediate future, it is idle to think of it."

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Our quarrel or tiff with France is now happily over; and as Sir Peter Teazle says, we shall never quarrel again-no, never, never.' But as that judicious person thought it advisable, after the reconciliation with his lady, to remind her gently that whenever they had quarrelled it was always she only who had been in fault-"You know, my dear, when we did quarrel, you were always in the wrong," -so our once more beloved ally, though we have kissed and made friends, sends forth, by the hand of M. de la Guerronière, a pamphlet entitled 'The Emperor and England,' in which he sets forth how many reasons he might find for continuing the strife if he were not the most forgiving creature in the world.

On the night of Saturday, the 6th of March, an insurrectionary attempt against the French government took place at Châlons-sur-Saône, but the intelligence was not allowed to be published in Paris till three days afterwards. The matter was nevertheless mentioned in the 'Moniteur' as a mere riot of a few idle ragamuffins; but it is so certain that this would be said, whether true or not, that little reliance can be placed on the statement. One very curious circumstance said to have attended it was that the military officers and others, when they were awakened in the middle of the night to repress the outbreak, went first to the Sous-Prefecture to ascertain whether the Republic had been proclaimed at Paris. Finding it had not, they bethought themselves of their loyalty, and acted accordingly. The most gloomy accounts are prevalent of the state of France; sudden and arbitrary arrests are taking place in all quarters; people are afraid of their own servants, and shrink from mentioning their acquaintance with any person who has fallen under suspicion; moreover on ne cause plus"-in short, his Imperial Majesty is keeping things very quiet by sitting upon the safety valve.

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On Saturday, the 13th of March, Orsini, the chief of the conspirators in the late criminal attempt on the life of Louis Napoleon, was beheaded with one of his companions, and met his death with a calm courage worthy of a better cause. Although it is impossible to deny the justice of the sentence, it is no less