SCHOOL REFORM AND TORY PARSONS.
SINCERELY do we hope that the howl amongst the Tory parsons, occasioned by the prospect of a movement in favour of national education, is a reasonable one. That is, we hope they are going to have something to howl for. If we were sure it was to come to any thing, we should welcome that howl as one of the most cheer- ful and invigorating strains of music we have heard for a long time, and discover in its discord infinite harmony. It is probable that the Tory parsons look beyond this threatened social enormity—to wit, a rational education for the people—and by the second sight of a stricken conscience behold ulterior convulsions in reserve for them. They don't believe that the present is to be a " final mea- sure." They are afraid they shall be reconnoitered occasionally, and that other interferences will be attempted equally hostile to what they call " the interests of religion "—meaning their own. They know that the more the subject of education comes to be investigated with refereuce to the people of this country, the more their services to the nation in that department will come to be un- derstood and appreciated.
Amongst those " ulterior measures" of educational reform which will hereafter stand in the same relation to the measure now promised, as Household Suffrage, Ballot, &c. do to the Relbrin Bill of 1832, may be mentioned the reform of our existing Public Schools. We made some observations on this subject about a year ago,* on the occasion of a petition relative to the Highgate Gram- mar School being argued in the Vice-Chancellor's Court ; and the recent judgment given on a similar petition from Rugby brings the matter again before us. The reader may remember, how complete a deflection from the objects of the founder was proved in the ease of the Highgate School, in spite of the ingenious reasoning of Sir CHARLES 1 ETHERELL, who submitted to the Court that reading and writing were taught there, for the reason that by one of the regulations of the master no boy was held admissible—who could not read and write! The quibbles to which, in like manner, the counsel for the respondents on the Rugby petition have been driven, induce us to believe that the gentlemen of the long robe are never so put to their shifts as when they are called on to defend the con- version of our free grammar schools into fashionable academies. This conversion, or perversion, has been perpetually going on ; and one cannot but feel surprised at the apathy and want of public. spirit which have permitted the gradual alienation of so many noble charities throughout the country from the classes for whose especial benefit they were designed. There seems to be one course for all free grammar schools in England—a continual di- verging from the principle of charity, and a continual sneaking in the direction of power and fashion. Founded for the benefit of the poor, they seek with all haste to throw open their doors to time * See the Spectator for the week ending 1411* July 1839. with the it and ob- a are in rich. Every opportunity that offers for tampiesriasiigm
foundees will, and enlarging the desertion front 't • ' jects, is eagerly embraced. Trustees, masters, ushets,
C goo illy a- one plot ; their common object—how to go nearest to l swind(le tlm poor out of the concern, and draw round themselves tl fluences of wealth and aristocracy. The affairs of Rugby School, since its foundation by LililVllrgENoenEe SI1ERIFP, " of London, grocer," in the year 15(17, Inc u
v de •
repeated modifications by acts of Parliament and orders of the Court of Chancery, obtained by the trustees of the charity. Its original scope was that of a free school for the children of Rugby and Brownesover, "and next tbr such as should be of other places adjoining." It is confessed that the poor classes in those places were the objects intended to be benefited ; that the in- struction was to be of that elementary sort alone required for them; and that no restriction was to be imposed as to age. What is
Rugby School now ?—a great public school, to which the children
of rich parents are sent front all parts of time country to receive an expensive classical education, and the entrance of boys under twelve years of age is virtually prshibited. Master LAwanYeE Smmmamtrr desired that the trustees should cause a discreet and learned man, being a Master of Arts, to be retained to teach the free grammar school ;" and this exemplary person was " to have the mansion- house to dwell in, and yearly for his salary 121." Who is now our " discreet and learned man, and what does he receive " yearly for his salary ?" We are unable to say what Dr. Attxot.n finds the Head-Mastership of Rugby worth ; but, what with the funds of the charity and the purses of the nobility, it is believed to be a very fat appointment, and may pretty safely be conjectured to exceed all the revenues of Master LAWRENCE 1111118dr, even in the most successful year of the grocery business.
If any thing could be surprising in the selfishness and cupidity of power, we might wonder at the glaring inconsistency of men who, while proclaiming the conservation of vested rights as the lodestar of their political flab, and denunnebig fire and sword against all who offer—even for great public objects—to infringe triat principle, can no less seek deliberately and systematically to undermine the fbundations of a public institution and destroy its ancient privileges. For noisy declaimers against all measures of political reform on the ground of their disturbing existing interests, where are we to look for the equals of these very men—the "Con- servative" trustees of' our betrayed charities, and the solemn peda- gogues that direct them? How much principle has to do with the tenets of Conservatism, we have thus a favourable occasion for judging, since it appears that while the rights to be con- served are their own rights, the fidelity of *the professors of Con- servatism is stanch, their morality flaming; but let the " inalien- able rights" and the " sacred principles" only happen to be the people s and behold they alienate the one and desecrate the other with all possible despatch. The history of Rugby School, as given by Mr. PENIBERTON in January last, exhibits a succession of assaults on its fundamental principles, made by those most in honour bound to defend them from violation. We said that trus- tees, nasters, ;xi:. all appeared to be in one plot to swindle the people out of the benefits intended for them in these free schools; but we forgot to name in the list of the conspiratorsthe .14e. This functionary, whether in the Court of' Chancery or in Paths- mein, seems at all times to have come into the scheme of depopu- larizing these schools, and enriching the masters at the expense ofthe public, with a wonderful alacrity. The prompt judgments recorded to lane been given by the former tribunal in titvour of the trustees, on every application made for permission to alter fundamental laws or play tricks with funds, go far to vindicate that celebrated court from the charge of tedious deliberation. In our own time, Lord ELDON appears, on a similar occasion, to have varied the monotony of the judicial office by offering his services as counsel against the People. This learned lord, it may be remembered, decreed, that " A. B. C. and other English books, writie,r, and grammar," meant " Latin and Greek, and the evidences of the Christian religion;" and he reasoned the point at considerable length, in appropriate arguments. In defending the like perversion of' the objects of the Rugby charity, the counsel for the respondents laid great stress on the advantages which the poorer scholars must derive from an arrangement which places them under the same roof with the sons of titled people! " The Legislature had given it [the charity] a larger and more bendicial shave than Lawrence Sheriff had ever contemplated : they laid nude the Jimn- dationers nehoolftlinms with, and competitors oj; the sons qf the noblemen qf the land:" The income of this charity is 6,0001. per annum ; and how many free boys does the reader think the school contains? Just forty- three. The sum paid for the education of each of these boys is now 12/ until recently it was Gl.; sixty years ago 3/. was thought an ample remuneration. Taking the rate of 61., however, the number of boys who ought to receive a free education at Rugby would be, not tbrty-three, but 1,000. At the present rate of 12/. the number would be 500. Might not the petitioners well com- plain, in the words of their counsel, that " systematically, inten- tionally, and avowedly, the school has been conducted otherwise [than time founder designed] ; and the consequence has been so injurious, that two schools have been actually established in Rugby, and to these hiferior schools the inhabitants have been compelled to send their children." Again, the exhibitioners arc chosen equally from amongst strangers and free boys ; and the argument for this palpable violation of the principle of the charity is, that greater benefit is conferred on the "free" boys by placing them in and unprotected competition " with the interlopers, e. the a sons of the noblemen of the land" —with whom the privilege to be associated in school hours is regarded by Dr. Ansatho as a blessing fits outweighing the disadvantages of being swindled,] than by leaving them to a monotonous enjoyment of LAWRENCE SUERIFeS bounty ! Just as logically and as pleasantly might a gang of humorous thieves, meeting Dr. Altran.o on the highway, firSt politely "trouble" him fist. his money, and then, scattering it about the road, say to him, with all the solemnity of a Chancery Judge" Exercise is salutary ; the blessings of' fortune are never so sweet as when we exert ourselves to obtain them : you will find much greater benefit, my dear Sir, from scrambling with us for those sovereigns, in a tree and unprotected competition,' than from carrying them quietly in your pocket. The latter practice is monotonous and lifeless ; but this scramble, now, you will find is full of excitement. Come, then, to 't, Doctor—first come, first served. Away, boys !"
What ingenious revolutionists self-interest makes of us, since it can associate for one object—Destructives and " Conservatives," highwaymen and Tury intssons!
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