NORTH WESTERN DISTRICT.: Tabulated Reports, in detail, by Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, the Rev. Alexander Thurtell; for the Year 1847. COUNTIES OF LANCASTER, CUMBERLAND, AND WESTMORELAND. NORTH WESTERN Tabulated Reports, in detail, by Her Majesty's Inspector of * Amount of Grant towards School-building-£240. Date of payment-October, 1846. REMARKS. Adlington.-Good school-building, with two rooms and master's house, part of which is to be made into a class-room. The floor of flags, and no provision for ventilation. Adlington, Boys'.-One in 1st class 13 years' old and four others 11. 1. In 4 classes, carefully arranged, the last consisting of mere infants. 2. Order, attention, and tidiness, very moderate. 4. A few spelt fairly; writing neat and of good character, but 2d. extra is paid for writing and arithmetic, and for the latter slates must be bought, so that the writers few, and only one boy did arithmetic. Catechism repeated indifferently; its language, or that of the Liturgy, very little understood. A few knew a little of some portions of Scripture. 5. The master was in a silk mill; went to a National school for about a month to learn the system; has been here eight years. Adlington, Girls'.-One was 11 years old and another 10, besides two sadly ignorant girls, each over 13, who had been employed till lately in a cotton print factory. 1. In 5 well-arranged classes, the last of mere infants. 2. Order, atten- | tion, and tidiness very moderate. 3. One spelt fairly and a few others indiferently; one wrote indifferently well; none i cipher; Catechism moderately repeated; only one understood its language, or that of the services, fairly; the same girl had a moderate, and somewhat intelligent, knowledge of portions of Scripture; a few others knew a little of Scripture. A little fancywork is done by girls who pay 2d. extra. 5. Mistress is daughter of the mistress of a private school; has had no training. The teachers of these schools seem respectable people, and conscientious care in their duties was observable, but they are not efficient teachers. Endeavours are making to produce improvement. Ainsworth, Mixed.-School built with aid from the Treasury, but the site never conveyed to trustees. It is still the property of a person said to be attached to the Church, but on account of the conduct of the Incumbent (who is deprived of the spiritual charge of the district), he refuses to complete the conveyance. Late, mistress left with arrears of salary unpaid; and the present Curate has only been able to procure the teaching of a young weaver untrained. No reading books but Bibles, and these in bad condition. Oldest boy 10 years of age; 2 oldest girls 11. Only 1, of 6 printwork children that attend the school, was present. 1. In 7 fairly-arranged classes at parallel writing desks. Children talkative and inattentive; still well-behaved in other respects, and tidy. 4. Spelling of all (but 2 girls) indifferent; writing indifferent; tables very imperfect. Girls repeated Catechism well, and boys fairly: only 1 girl knew much of its meaning. Repeated simultaneously the tables, and the first 20 of the Thirty-nine Articles; of the sense of the latter they had no idea. In like manuer some grammar and geography attempted. Only 1 clever girl had much knowledge of Scripture. The master keeps an evening school twice a-week; he attends an evening school at Bolton, for which he pays 9d. out of the 7s. earned here. He lives with his parents. Astley-A good school-building with playgrounds. A much-needed infant school, with residences for the master and mistresses about to be built. All pay id. a-week, except the children of farmers, who pay 2d. There is a free school of about 40 children not under the clergymau. Astley, Boys.-29 of the 91 examined were half-day scholars; the 3 eldest in their twelfth year, and 30 mere infants. 1. An assistant unpaid; unpaid monitors from 1st class, each once a-day for about 14 hours. 2. Attendance pretty DISTRICT. Schools, the Rev. Alexander Thurtell; for the Year 1847. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d £. s. d. L. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. 4 10 0 11 10 032 6 8 43 16 813 1 5 for both. .. 0 14 0 8 18 10 9 14 317 8 6 4 18 2 1 16 1 50 0 0 1 10 0 3 10 0 500 600 50 0 0 1 7 18 2 1 19 27 14 4 regular and punctual; order moderate, attention indifferent; children fairly clean and neat. 4. Spelling moderately good; writing good and fairly neat; dictation fair; arithmetic good, but might be more intelligently taught. Two worked Interest, one fairly acquainted with geography and history, and indifferently with the parts of speech. The Catechism fairly repeated, but indifferently understood; a few had some fair, though partial, acquaintance with Scripture history. The first class learns lessons at home. Master, aged 22, was a silk weaver; learned to teach in a National school. Astley, Girls'.-8 half-day scholars and 20 mere infants; 1 whole-day scholar is 11 years old; 2 next oldest but 9. 1. In 7 classes, a paid assistant, unpaid monitors, each during a part of either morning or afternoon. 2. Order, attention, and tidiness, are but moderate. 3. Spelling moderate; writing and dictation indifferent; geography indifferent; a few fairly acquainted with syntax, and a few others indifferently with the parts of speech. Catechism pretty well repeated, but indifferently understood; 1 moderately acquainted with Scripture history, and a few others indifferently. The mistress was a weaver; was afterwards for one month at a National school; has been schoolmistress 10 years. Atherton. A good school-building and playground. Atherton, Boys'-12 half-day scholars; 10 half-day scholars, present in the afternoon, not examined. 1. Unpaid monitors from 1st and 2nd classes, each for a week once a mouth. 2. Good order; fair attention; children clean and tidy; half-day scholars more than usually so; attendance pretty punctual and regular. 4. Writing moderate, but neat; spelling and dictation fair; arithmetic of fair character, four worked sums in interest; geography fair; English history indifferent; Catechism well repeated and fairly understood; Scripture moderately well-remembered and understood. Lessons learned at home regularly. 5. Master aged 28; trained at Chester for 1 year, in 1840-1; here ever since; teaches an evening school, of from 10 to 20, twice a-week. Atherton, Girls'.-Some 20 present were infants, and 10 half-day scholars; 7 half-day scholars, present P.M., not examined. 1. Unpaid monitors, alternate days. 2. Order moderate; attention fair; girls neat; attendance not very punctual, but pretty regular. Spelling good; writing moderate; writers pay a penny a-week more; dictation indifferent; one did arithmetic fairly, and knew something of geography, grammar, and English history, and was fairly acquainted with Scripture; the rest indifferently instructed. Catechism well repeated and fairly understood; spelling and Collect learned at home. Mistress is wife to the master. Barton-upon-Irwell, Boys'.-1. In three classes. 2. Mild and good. 4. Imperfect in results; but school opened only last July, and the people iguorant. 5. Master zealous and active; has done a good deal, and imparted a pleasing tone to the school. Barton-upon-Irwell, Girls'.-1 and 2. Good for the circumstances. 4. Imperfect and superficial, though not without intelligence; babies do little. 5. The mistress young aud improving. The singing in both schools was pleasing, and things in good order. Both schools need books and apparatus; they have received Government aid towards the latter. Great efforts have been made by the clergyman and his parishioners to establish the school. : Books and Stationery. Candles and Fuel. Sundries. TOTAL. Bickerstaffe.-An important set of schools which, together with the church and parsonage, owes its existence and support mainly to Lord Derby's liberality. Bickerstaffe, Boys'.-1. In three classes. 2. Very good, and tone excellent. 4. The teaching is throughout good and intelligent. Three boys, considerably older than usual, it is true, work compound interest correctly, two decimals, and one knows a little mensuration. Some understand the reasons of all the processes in multiplication. One or two profess to know something of agricultural chemistry, algebra, and Latin. The spelling of the upper boys is good. The catechism is fairly repeated, and well understood. The scriptural knowledge is good and intelligent. They sing from notes, and chant the service well, conjointly with the girls. 5. The master has been 2 years at St. Mark's. The clergyman treats him with great consideration, and has assisted him in Latin and Greek. He is an intelligent, culti vated, but unassuming person. 6. It is proposed to employ this school for educating young farmers in the elements of agricultural science, and the project is favoured by the tenant of Lord Derby's adjoining farm, being an intelligent and active agriculturalist, who takes great interest in the school. (Since my visit the master has left, and this scheme is now in abeyauce.) Bickerstaffe, Girls'.-1. In four classes. Each monitor employed alternate weeks. 2. Very good, and tone good. 4. On the whole good, and very fairly intelligent. Writing neat; spelling fair. Catechism well repeated and fairly understood. Scriptural knowledge fair as to extent and intelligence. A few have a fair, and several some, knowledge of geography. Several know a little grammar. One has a good acquaintance with English history, and a few more know it fairly. The girls' work is very neat. 5. The mistress was 14 years at Whitelands, and seems pains-taking. Bickerstaffe, Infants'.-Under a very young, but pleasing and apparently efficient, mistress. Not fully inspected. Birch, in Middleton, Mixed.-Under a master of the old school, the parish clerk, once a weaver. 1, 2, 3. Very little of any of these attempted. 4. The children read the Bible straight through, but know very little about its language or its contents; a few read or write fairly; three cipher. Slates are only used for ciphering. The school-room is dirty and littered, and the books torn. The master teaches an evening school, of above 30, twice a week. Birch, in Middleton, Girls'.-Several mere infants. 1. Classes not divided well. 2. Children orderly and cheerful. 4. Bible alone read, and without system; no arithmetic; Scripture history and catechism fairly answered. School mainly supported by grant from National Society; finances in a sad state; teachers left without school-managers or pecuniary support. Class-books purchased by children, and taken to and from school. Blackley, Crab-lane.-1. Sexes separated; each in 4 classes; never mixed. 2. Indifferent; tone of girls' school good. 4. Uvintelligent and inefficient; boys especially did not know what they read; learn at home from spelling-books, but do not spell well; some geography and grammar known; none did a sum correctly; writing-books unneat; girls sew, &c., fairly. 5. Irish people, man and wife; have been here 8 months. The master was 3 months at Kildaretreet in 1825. They are desirous of doing well, and the school has increased under them. 6. School-rooms untidy. There is a school-library of 220 volumes much used; in the school, however, class reading-books are much wanted. Bolton-le-Moors, Emmanuel.--A fine school building: a class-room is to be added, and an inconvenient gallery removed. Biton-le-Moors, Emmanuel, Boys'.-93 of the 229 present during the day are half day scholars; many look sickly; only 3 over 13 years old, and 2 in the 1st class under 8. 1. In 7 classes. The 2nd class consists of whole-day scholars alone, and the third of half-day. Time table arranged, so that half-day scholars not neglected. Order, attention, and tidiness of the children satisfactory; reading very good, and with good intonation; spelling moderately good; writing About Endowment. 0 11 010 00 per week National School Pence. ANNUAL INCOME. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d.£. 50 0 013 0 0 s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d.£. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. 70 0 0 60 0 0 0 10 0 2002 00 140 0 0 Furniture and Apparatus. 1 3 0 Books and Stationery. Candles and Fuel. good; dictation good; abstracts few; arithmetic good; geography known by one well, and by a few others fairly; history indifferent; a very few know a little grammar; Catechism moderately well repeated and understood; Liturgy indifferently understood. One boy's scriptural knowledge is very full and good, that of another fair throughout; that of a few others fair. An even state of instruction throughout the school. A clergyman of the Committee always gives the morning scriptural lesson. The state of the school, in a poor district and composed of such scholars, does the master great credit. Bolton-le-Moors, Emmanuel, Girls'.-46 of the 101 present are half-day scholars; sickly; one 10 years old, does not know her letters; 3, over 12 years old, read monosyllables very imperfectly. 1. In 7 classes; monitors from the first, 3 to each class. 2. Order good; attention very fair; attendance punctual and tolerably regular; girls fairly tidy. 3. Reading pretty good; spelling moderate; dictation fair; most repeat Catechism fairly, and understand its language. and that of the Liturgy, fairly; a few know Scripture fairly, and with some intelligence; a few indifferently acquainted with geography and English history. 5. Mistress young; educated at superior private school; has been here 10 months. Bolton, Holy Trinity.-A clergyman always attends, as it is considered a model school, to conduct the prayers and give a Scripture lesson in the morning. A much-needed Infant school is in course of erection. Bolton, Holy Trinity, Boys'.-308 boys present; 163 half-day scholars, under one quite unassisted master!! 40 boys are not yet 6 years old. 1. In 6 classes of whole-day scholars, with a few half-day scholars in the 1st, and very few in the 2nd class; 3 additional classes contain half-day scholars alone; unpaid monitors, from the whole-day scholars of the 1st or 2nd class. Order and attention very good, and the boys tidy, considering; reading good; spelling fair; dictation and abstracts good; arithmetic good; most of the upper boys are well acquainted with geography, and several moderately well with history; I is well acquainted with the parts of speech, and fairly with syntax, several fairly with the former, and moderately with the latter; a little of etymology had been taught; the Catechism very fairly repeated, and that and the Liturgy fairly understood; Scripture very fairly and intelligently known; 1 boy in the 1st class is 14 years old, and the 3 next oldest are in their 12th year. The boys prepare at home a text, and lessous in grammar and geography. The master has been here 7 years; he was at Westminster for 6 months; is a very skilful teacher. Considering the number and the condition of the scholars, the results produced are very good, especially as regards the half-day scholars. Bolton, Holy Trinity, Girls'.-86 of the 174 present were half-day scholars, 30 are not 6 years old. Two young women in training have been dressmakers; 1 has been 12 months, and the other 3: do not come regularly, and receive no instruction. 1. In 6 classes; unpaid monitors from 1st class, changed each day. 2. Excellent order; great attention; children very cheerful, clean, and tidy, the only exceptions being factory girls lately come. 4. Reading particularly good; writing good and neat; spelling good; dictation very good, and abstracts to correspond; arithmetic of good character, though not to a great extent; most of the 1st class are well acquainted with geography and grammar; several have a fair knowledge of syntax; history of England moderate; the Catechism is well repeated and understood: the language of the services fairly understood; Scripture well known in every respect by many; attainments in the different parts of the school to correspond. Some of the 1st class learn lessons at home: the 7 oldest girls in the 1st class are in their 13th year. The mistress was trained in Blue Coat Hospital, Liverpool; has been here 6 years; is wife to the master. Sundries TOTAL. |