Page:Macaula yʼs minutes on education in India, written in the years 1835, 1836 and 1837 (IA dli.csl.7615).pdf/105

Rh than a pension. But, though it is exceedingly unpleasant to me to take the harsh side on such occasions, I really cannot see sufficient ground for what is proposed. Where are we to stop if once we begin? And what assurance have we that the greater part of our funds may not, if once the principle be recognized, be diverted from purposes of education and expended on the wives and children of our school masters.—[Page 134.] 5th June, 1837.

Proposal to establish ten pupil teacherships.—I am against what is proposed. The effect of adopting the proposition would be either to stop the progress of the best students, or to provide the lower classes with bad masters. If any but the very best are selected to teach, the business of teaching will be ill-performed. If the best are selected, their education is at an end. Just imagine what would be the effect in England of selecting all the best scholars of a public school, and at the time when they would be leaving school for the university making them ushers, and condemning them to pass their time in teaching “musa, musæ,” and “amo, amas, amat” to the boys of the lowest form. No system could be devised more certain to stunt the minds of boys at the very time of life at which their minds might be expected to develope themselves most rapidly.

If we were absolutely in want of funds, there might be some excuse for such a measure. But there will not be the smallest difficulty in providing additional teachers, if additional teachers are wanted. And surely it is much better to appoint such teachers, than to divert the attention of the most intelligent young men in the college from their own studies, and to employ them in the uninteresting drudgery of teaching the first elements to children.

I am a little inclined to think that this is an attempt to introduce into the college, under a disguise, that stipendiary system which the Government and the Committee have condemned, but to which Dr. Wise, like many other highly respectable persons, seems to cling with extraordinary fondness. Be this as it may, I vote against the proposition.—[Page 138.] 28th June, 1837.

The establishment of a Branch School at Hooghly supported by Mahomed Moshin’s endowment is desired by the people of Hooghly.—Then I would have such a school. We have ample funds; and as far as I properly can, I wish to comply with the inclinations of the people of Hooghly.—[Book N. page 106.] 18th July, 1837.

Commencement of the long discussions about the purchase of General Perron’s house at Chinsurah for the college of Mahomed