Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/326

266 “It is not my intention to recommend any interference whatever in the native schools. Every thing of this kind ought to be carefully avoided and the people should be left to manage their schools in their own way. All that we ought to do is to facilitate the operations of these schools, by restoring any funds that may have been diverted from them, and perhaps granting additional ones where it may appear advisable; but on this point we shall be better able to judge, when we receive the information now proposed to be called for.

The 25th June 1823.

“We think great credit is due to Sir Thomas Munro for having originated the idea of this inquiry. We shall be better able when we have seen specimens of the report to judge whether the prescribed inquiry is sufficient to bring forth all the useful information capable of being obtained. The proportion in which the great body of the people obtain the knowledge of reading and writing, the degree to which the means of obtaining them are placed within their reach, the extent to which the branches of knowledge esteemed of a higher kind are objects of pursuit and the means of instruction in them are afforded, are the most important points, and these appear to be fully embraced. The most defective part of the information which will thus be elicited is likely to be that which relates to the quality of the instruction which the existing education affords; but of this we shall be able to form a more correct opinion when we see what the reports contain. It was proper to caution the collectors against exciting any fears in the people that their freedom of choice in matters of education would be interfered with, but it would be equally wrong to do any thing to fortify them in the absurd opinion that their own rude institutions of education are so perfect as not to admit of improvement.”

The four volumes of Revenue and Judicial Selections which I have seen, and which are I believe all that have been published, do not contain any reference to the reports made in conformity with Sir Thomas Munro’s instructions. The utility of the statistical inquiries recommended by that sagacious and experienced statesman, and so explicitly approved by the Honorable Court with a distinct view to the improvement to be introduced into the existing rude institutions of education, is still further increased when they are regarded as introductory and auxiliary to a general system of popular instruction. The information thus collected is highly valuable in itself and for its own sake, for the insight it affords and the inferences to which it leads respecting the interior structure and condition of native society; but the details it