Page:Hints for the improvement of village schools and the introduction of industrial work.djvu/26

18 with the vegetables and fruit from the garden, with a little rice, is quite sufficient,) in making soup and puddings of various kinds, which are sent out to the sick in tin dishes, and are paid for out of the offertory, and in making twice a week, a number of meat and apple pies, which have a ready sale among the parents of the children.

The baking gives us no trouble. Twice in the week, about twenty-four loaves of 2lb each, are baked, and as we sell them a farthing per loaf cheaper than the baker, there is no difficulty in disposing of them. The quantity is not sufficient to interfere with the profits of the baker, but is enough for the purpose of instructing the children in the art of making good bread. As for the washing, we take in all we can get. The supply is somewhat uncertain, but we have sometimes earned upwards of 30s. a week. My own washing, and that of the school-teachers, is always done at the school, and paid for at the usual rate.

By the kindness of the architect who was employed for the schools at Shipbourne, (R. G. Suter, Esq., 50, Lansdown Place, Brighton,) I am enabled to append two ground plans for a National and Industrial School, either of which I should consider suitable for an agricultural village of 500 or 600 people.

We will suppose that the school is divided into five classes, each class containing twenty-five children, and that in the main schoolroom there are three groups of three parallel desks, each group accommodating a class. These desks, about 9 ft. 6 in. long, and varying in height from 2 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft., should be moveable, the tops should be flat or slightly sloped, and if made of deal, stained and varnished, ought not to cost more than 15s. each. We will also suppose that each class is divided from the one next to it by a curtain of green moreen sliding on an iron rod 5 ft. from the floor, and extending half-way across the room, and that in the one class-room there are three parallel desks, while in the other there is a square class (intended for infants) consisting of three low benches with backs to them, and a monitor's stool. All these arrangements I have tested, and have found to be very satisfactory.

And now, for the convenience of managers who are not practically acquainted with the details of a schoolroom, and who often expect teachers to work without tools, I will add a list of such books and apparatus as would be suitable and sufficient for a school of 125 children:—

School Apparatus. 3 swing slates, 18s. 6d. each. 2 swing black boards, 15s. each. 12 doz. unframed slates, 2s. per doz. 6 boxes of slate pencils, 6d. each. 4 boxes of Gillott's pens, No. 351 and 352, 1s. 6d. per box.