Page:The education of the farmer.djvu/51

 If a parent desires any special advantages of social position for his son, he must of course expect to pay for them,

I do not hesitate to express my own opinion, that a charge of 35l. or 40l. a-year may reasonably be expected for such an education as ought to be given in the higher class of boarding-schools for the middle classes, unless confined to very little boys; but such an education cannot be given without a good staff of masters, whose qualifications ought to be above suspicion; they should hold the certificate of some competent authority, and be remunerated in such a way as to feel at ease in their position, with a hope of eventually rising and being able to marry. How can a man who is miserable or hopeless, and therefore tempted to be selfish or reckless, be a fit companion for boys?

It may not be useless to point out to agriculturists what is spent by other classes on education. A young man who goes through a regular course of education to a college degree without assistance from foundations costs his father about 2500l, allowing 5 years at a private school, 5 years at a public school or private tutor, and three years at college; and this in the ordinary course of things, supposing no extravagance. Some of the clergy, probably, by strict and conscientious self-denial, and great efforts on their own parts and that of their friends, may enter holy orders at an expense not exceeding 1000l.; but these are rare instances; and the legal and medical professions, especially the latter, often involve expenses which exceed the amount last named. If the figures above given be referred to it will be seen that, after deducting the expense of living at home, a respectable education in the middle ranks may be had, from 10 years old till 16, for less than 150l.

The only conclusion I venture to draw from these facts is, that the sum required for a good education in the middle ranks is not so alarming as to place any real hindrance in the way of its being attained by all men of capital. For surely it is far better to sink the twentieth or the tithe of capital than to give children an inferior education, by which they will suffer all the best days of their life; the addition of a trifling percentage to what they will receive after their parent's death will be no compensation for such a disadvantage.

If the objects to be aimed at in the education of the middle classes, and the data for the calculation of its expense have been rightly indicated, it remains only to say a few words as to the measures by which such an education can be brought within the reach of farmers generally.

In the first place a wide line of distinction must be drawn between the education of the little farmers, and that of the higher class of yeomen.