THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sta,—The gloomy account of the. smaller Public Schools which " A' Headmaster " gave in your issue of July 16th may in the main be accurate, but in two particulars at least his condemnation is too sweeping. He declares that " the Public Schools of too to 303 bOys.,- chatting fees of £100 to £150 per annum;" tend, as the result of too much Coin- . petition, to adopt unscrupulous methods of increasing their numbers- and to pass upon -a genteel and snobbish public a .superficial substitute " for true education." " A Head- master " includes among these schools some of the Grammar Schools and some new schools, " or old schools with new names and new Objects." He does not specify, or exempt from his condemnation, a grouP Of 'denominational schools (Methodist, Quaker, Congregational) which his definition of a small public school can be taken to fit, but which are not run by snob-appeal or by unseemly touting, for boys. I know -one such denominational school well. It lacks funds, certainly, but a". principal reason for this is that it provides out of the' normal fees a considerable number of 'bursaries to reduce ' the feet payable "by sons of Ministers. And since this arrangement is made' so 'that sons Of ministers -may get' a good education,*it may be assumed that the claims of true education are not forgotten.
" A Headmaster " is too- intolerant of Old Boys' activities. I am a member of a committee which for the Past two years 'has been trying -to:' uild up an Old Boy? association in the belief that it can be useful. " A- Headmaster " -Says it " natural and almost inevitable . . that most men turn back with affection to their school 'days and the school. that gave them their early experiences of joy and sorrow"' -A number of inen'would like -tO do 'so but heSitate becatiSethey have lost -touch with their school and think they may have been forgotten. An Old Bciys' ' association can help such people 'to keep - in touch and to be remetnbered. It can alio prOperly harness their " natural.' interest in the school: As for the " ties, dinners, insurance schemes, aPpeals, cricket matches; &c."—each item may 'be at Worst innocuous and at best beneficial. I have been directlY Concerned 'With each item (except cricket matches) and Only shortage Of 'SPace prevents my describing their use Or harmlessnets'at 'length.—
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