period of several years. To this practical training are occasionally marked by an assurance which sorely needs correction. The inspector will do well to remember that in drawing up his report he is engaged in a delicate task. Not everything is meet to be set down, and he must school himself to refrain from mentioning some failings, even if he feels proud to have discovered them by his own acumen. The late Professor Withers, one of the most sympathetic of men and an admirable inspector, used to adopt in his reports a happy phrase to the effect that there were other points which called for comment but that he had already discussed these with the staff. This plan served to win for him the confidence of the teachers, who felt secure from the false impression often conveyed by reports which enumerate every trivial fault. The document itself should be worded in terms which are simple and clear. Not without reason has one member of a school committee recently raised a public protest concerning the polysyllabic screeds which some inspectors love to compile, forgetting that the average member of a Board of Governors is apt to like a straightforward statement. He has little knowledge of the technical vocabulary of pedagogy, and a string of overwrought sentences will excite his contempt and lead him to disparage unduly both the report and its author. Tags from text-books on psychology and high-sounding passages on " "atmosphere are usually quite worthless, serving only to darken counsel, or to give the impression that the inspector is merely trying to justify his existence. It remains to consider whether the inspector, thus chosen and appointed, is to remain an inspector for the rest of his days, going through the same routine of visits and reports, broken only by a brief holiday in the summer. Such a routine is the fate of most inspectors under the present system and forms a drawback which is almost fatal to continued efficiency. For whatever enthusiasm and vigour a man may possess at the beginning of his career there will be an inevitable falling off with the repetition of visits and reports year after year. The claims of routine will leave him little opportunity for becoming informed as to changes in educational work outside his own sphere, and after a time he will tend to be less a fount of inspiration than a thin stream of platitudes, forming part of a golf course on Saturday afternoons. Yet his work demands, if it is to be done properly, that he shall be able to carry enlightenment into the schools. It follows therefore that his routine duties must be interrupted now and then so that he may revive his knowledge and enthusiasm. This would be done if it were rendered possible for him to be released from his district for one year in five. During this interval he should continue on the staff, but should be asked to investigate some branch of education either at home or abroad. He would return to his duties with fresh vigour and the body of reports which would in time become available would be of inestimable value to the country. It is doubtful, too, whether any inspector should continue long in office without some opportunity of renewing his experience of the practical difficulties of the classroom. Some of the best inspectors are apt to allow their enthusiasm for reform to carry them into the regions of the wholly impracticable. To talk about education is fatally easy, as we see from the columns of the newspapers, and the inspector should remember that the tasks which are willed by him in hours of insight have to be fulfilled often in hours of gloom by the harassed teacher. The best corrective for soaring theory is a spell of practice, and it ought to be possible arrange that the inspector spends part of his Sabbatical year in actual teaching. This applies in particular to those who have been appointed after only a brief spell of service in schools and whose naïve utterances to It is unfortunately necessary to add that the inspector should bear in mind that he is a visitor to the school. Not a few primary teachers have suffered in the past from the ill-bred and dictatorial manner which is adopted by certain inspectors. At a certain school in the Midlands last year an inspector of this kidney turned suddenly to a young teacher and said: "Are you going to a dance after school?" "No sir," was the reply. Then why do you wear such a piece of finery as that blouse?" Another example of the same kind occurred when a different inspector at another school barked out the injunction: "Don't call me Mr. Smith, say 'Sir'!" The teachers obeyed of course, but among themselves the haughty official is now invariably referred to as Sir Smith." Such absurd pomposity as is shown by some inspectors is doubtless the result of the outward deference which is their portion wherever they go. Everybody pretends to take them seriously, and in the long run the weaker men come to take themselves seriously also, becoming veritable Malvolios of the educational stage. Here again the occasional release for a year, with a spell of teaching practice, would be invaluable in restoring the lost sense of proportion and regaining a just estimate of the relative importance of inspectors and teachers. Meanwhile the pranks of the few ought not to blind us to the great value of the work which is being done by many inspectors under the new conditions and which will continue to be done if only they and the teachers are left reasonably free and not tied down to paper schemes and minute regulations from Whitehall SCHOOL A Monthly Record of Educational Thought & Progress EDITED BY R. B. LATTIMER Single Number 6d. nett Annual Subscription, 6s., or, post free, 8s. THE EDITOR invites Contributions or Correspondence on topics of an educational interest. MSS. will be read, and returned, if found not suitable, but no responsibility is taken for accidental loss. Editorial and Publishing Offices: 50A ALBEMARLE STREET, W. Advertising Department : GEO. W. MAY, 29 JOHN ST., BEDFORD ROW, W.C. Our Schools XXVII. Merchant Taylors' School Homo plantat, homo irrigat, sed Deus dat incrementum. "WHERE exactly is Merchant Taylors'?" is a question not infrequently asked even by Londoners, for to many the school is only a name. There is, however, ample excuse for the question, as the school buildings, though surrounded on all sides by a busy hive of industry, are situated away from any main thoroughfare, and except on one side are undisturbed by the roar of a city street. However, if you alight at Aldersgate Street Station, pass down Carthusian Street and cross Charterhouse Square, you will soon find yourself within the school gates. Although the school was founded by the Merchant Taylors' Company as long ago as 1561, it has only been where it now is since 1875. In that year the Company transplanted their school from Suffolk Lane (near Cannon Street Station) to the former site of the Charterhouse. The Carthusians had taken their school to Godalming, having sold some five acres of land to the Merchant Taylors' Company for £90,000. What these five acres are worth at the present day it would be difficult to say precisely, but the value of the site is at all events twice as great as it was thirty years ago. In spite of this, it is not at all probable that Merchant Taylors' will ever be moved out into the country, as its former neighbour, Christ's Hospital, was only a few years ago. Owing to its central position, it is easily accessible from all the suburbs, though its boys are chiefly drawn from the northern and north-eastern districts of London. It is now entirely a day school, but occasionally boys live with relations or friends or with one of the masters. When Charterhouse moved into the country, the famous Pensioners' Hospital (immortalised in The Newcomes) was naturally left behind. It is now known as "The Charterhouse," and together with its master's house and chapel is quite distinct from the present buildings of Merchant Taylors'. The school, however, is still allowed to make use of the Charterhouse Chapel on certain days of the year. It was the object of the founders to start a school capable of holding 250 boys, and this was the number for most of the time during which it was in Suffolk Lane. For many years after its foundation it was the largest public school in the country. Since its removal it has greatly increased and its present numbers are close upon 500. Recently the Company has added a new block to the buildings, and the accommodation, especially as regards science teaching, has been considerably augmented. Other public schools are directly connected with City companies, as, for example, St. Paul's with the Mercers' and Tonbridge with the Skinners', but these companies did not found their respective schools; they only enjoy the privilege of governing them. Thus the position of Merchant Taylors' is unique, in that it is the only public school in England which possesses no property of its own; even the endowhave been accepted by the Company. The Company ments that have been bequeathed to the school itself free from any legal obligation in regard to it. considers the school as its own property and holds fulfilled all moral obligations. It has, however, since the earliest days, generously White, founder of St. John's College, Oxford, who Chief among the school's benefactors is Sir Thomas was a member of the court of the Merchant Taylors' Company in the year when they founded their school, and it is to him that the school is indebted (originally fellowships) in connection with the for the foundation of twenty-one scholarships college. The actual hours of work may not seem excessive, but it is necessary to take into consideration the fatigue of a daily railway journey (which in the case of some boys occupies an hour and a half or two hours). The school assembles daily in the Great Hall for prayers at 9.10, and afterwards work continues, in the case of the Upper School till 12.30, and of the Lower and Junior School till 12.10. There is a break of a quarter of an hour at 11.15. The dinner interval lasts till 1.30 and school continues after that to 3.30. During the long interval dinner is provided in the catering department for all who require it; there is also a luncheon-room for those who prefer a lighter meal. No one may go outside the school premises at this time. Wednesdays and Saturdays are half-holidays. After 3.30 there is a homework class for some of the junior boys, but the majority do their preparation at home. The time allotted varies from two to three hours according to the form. The long holidays are much the same as at other schools, except that the Christmas holidays are much longer than the Easter ones, instead of being of the same length. The summer holidays are only slightly over six weeks in length, but to compensate for this there is almost a week's holiday in June about the time of St. Barnabas' Day, on which the Speeches are always held. There are also a certain number of statutory holidays during the year, such as Sir Thomas White's birthday, Lord Mayor's Day and Whit Monday. juniors map-drawing is much encouraged. The latter seems to be a heritage from the time of Townley, the educational reformer and friend of Garrick, of whom mention will be made later. Considering its position in the heart of the metropolis, Merchant Taylors' can congratulate itself on the size of its playground, which comprises about two and a half acres. Of this nearly a half is grass and is sufficiently large to admit of cricket netpractice for all who join the school club, and to a smaller extent football practice (chiefly for the first and second teams) in winter. Until recent years school matches at cricket were played here; though the disadvantages were considerable, the batsmen must certainly have revelled in boundaries. Now the school possesses a very fine cricket and football ground of some twelve acres—the gift of the Company-at Bellingham, near Catford. The wickets there are excellent, and in the matter of boundaries the case is reversed; in fact on one side it is possible to get a six all run out. The school is divided into three sides-Classical, Modern and Special. There is also a Junior School containing about 100 boys. During the past few During the past few years the Modern side has enormously increased and now contains more than a third of the school, The Special side is meant for those who intend to offer themselves for scholarships in mathematics or natural science at the universities or who wish to specialise in these subjects for any other purpose. On gaining promotion from the junior school, every one has to choose between the Classical and Modern sides. The subjects are those of the ordinary school curriculum, and in addition Hebrew is taught in a special class, which usually consists of about ten boys. Merchant Taylors' is now the only public school where this subject is learnt. It is largely owing to this that so many Old Merchant Taylors enter the Church; a large percentage do work in the mission field. There is also a special history class for those who are preparing for university scholarships in history. It may be mentioned that great stress is laid throughout the Upper school on the writing of English essays, and among the Games are not compulsory; indeed it would be difficult to make them so, even if it were desirable, owing to the long train journeys. Nevertheless, among those who do play there is probably more keenness than at many boarding schools. Only about a quarter of the boys play cricket and football regularly in the various clubs, but a considerably greater number play with their respective forms. In summer these play at cricket on the asphalt pitches, and in winter they join in a mysterious game called "High Level," consisting of a quaint blend of Rugby and Association football, which owes its name, not, as might be supposed, to the excellence of the play, but to the part of the asphalt playground where it is played, under which it is said that some of the victims of the Plague were buried. Matches both at cricket and football are arranged with a large number of schools, both in the London area and at a distance. Those, however, which evoke most interest are the annual football matches against St. Paul's and Dulwich and the cricket match against Forest School. There is a good deal of enthusiasm in the school over the doings of the Old Boys' Football Club, of which all Merchant Taylors are justly proud. In the Easter term a good many boys play fives. There are five courts and matches are played against St. Paul's and Dulwich, with both the first and second teams. There is a good gymnasium and every boy has to do gymnastics for at least one hour a week as a part of the curriculum, in school hours, and as H 1 a consequence the standard is good throughout. Every year during the Easter term a gymnastic display is held in the Great Hall. The athletic sports are held partly at Bellingham and partly at Charterhouse Square, round the asphalt track, where, in spite of the obvious disadvantages and the frequent turns, many good times have been recorded. In connection with the part of the programme which takes place at Bellingham, a steeplechase has been organised during the last few years. For this purpose a neighbouring brook and various fences have been utilised, and the event is a very popular one. There are no ordinary school runs. All the school games are managed by joint committees of masters and boys, but in the choice of teams, as in many other matters, the boys act entirely by themselves. The military enthusiasm which prevailed at the time of the South African War led to the formation of a Rifle Corps, which is attached to the London Rifle Brigade. The Company warmly supported the scheme and the Corps has flourished. It is usually about seventy strong. Each year a number of field-days are arranged, chiefly in connection with other schools. There is Morris-tube practice during the winter months, and a shooting eight has been sent to Bisley regularly during recent years. At the end of the summer term the members of the Corps join the public schools' camp. Signalling is also practised by a few experts after school hours. There is no army class, and very few boys enter the army direct from the school. In the South African War, however, about sixty Old Boys fought in the various services, chiefly among the volunteer battalions. A tablet to the memory of those who fell may be seen in the Great Hall. Since 1890 Merchant Taylors' School has supported a mission in north-east London. In a parish of Shacklewell, a resident missioner is maintained, together with a working men's club. Collections are made by representatives from each form. Every new boy is invited early in his school career to spend an afternoon and evening at the club, and the form representatives pay terminal visits to it, so that the school is kept in close contact with the life of the mission. Sports in connection with the men's club are held annually in the school playground. The school buildings do not possess any great architectural interest. By far the most noteworthy feature is the Great Hall, where all the chief functions are held and where the boys assemble daily for prayers. This is a fine room and has the charac teristics of a city or college hall. It possesses a handsome fireplace, which has unfortunately been partially obscured by a daïs which was erected as a platform for concerts, &c. The rest of the buildings, which consist of class-rooms, laboratories, fives-courts, gymnasium, catering department and part of the old cloisters of the Charterhouse are too scattered to form a connected whole. It would not be in place here to give a lengthy account of the many famous men who have been educated at Merchant Taylors', but a few may be mentioned. The Company made a singularly good choice in appointing an Old Etonian, Richard Mulcaster, as their first headmaster. He seems to have been the foremost headmaster of his day, and to have possessed great skill in the training of boys. He was fortunate enough to have Edmund Spenser and Lancelot Andrewes, afterwards Bishop of Winchester and one of the translators of the Bible, among his earliest pupils. After such an excellent start, the school soon attained a high position, which it has maintained in almost unbroken continuity ever since. Among its scholars perhaps distinguished Churchmen are the most prominent; during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries two archbishops and ten bishops received their education there. But probably the greatest of all its sons was Robert Clive, though he was quite undistinguished when at school and was only there for two years. Since its earliest years Merchant Taylors', like the other great London schools, has encouraged acting. Mulcaster himself trained his boys to act before Queen Elizabeth, and these performances were of sufficient account to rouse the professional jealousy of Shakespeare, who, in Hamlet, makes Rosencrantz speak of "an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically clapped for 't: these are now the fashion." For many years after Mulcaster's time, there was no acting in the school, but Garrick's friend, Townley, who has been mentioned above, revived the practice when he was headmaster. He was himself a writer of plays, and introduced the acting of Latin plays into the school. Not long after his death Charles Mathews, the celebrated actor, came as a boy to the school, and it is probable that his after-career was influenced by the traditions of the place. At the present time the only Old Boy of note on the stage is Mr. Herbert Waring, but the acting tradition is maintained, and at the annual Speeches the acting often reaches a high level. Shakespeare in London By Ernest Young, B.Sc. Ir would be interesting to know how many scholars, either boys or girls, who have read any of Shakespeare's plays, have been taken by their teachers to the sites of the places where Shakespeare lived and where his plays were acted. Such visits would necessarily be confined either to Stratford or to London. One can scarcely believe that there are any children in Stratford or its immediate neighbourhood who do not know the familiar spots in Warwickshire connected with the greatest of playwrights. They are easily accessible. But the case is far otherwise in London. So many of the old buildings have disappeared that their whereabouts are known only to the diligent student of London topography. It is the purpose of this article to place at the disposal of teachers in or near London a short guide to the sites of the most important spots connected with the life of Shakespeare in London. Though the old theatres and houses are mostly lost to us, yet owing to the fact that the courses of streets are often kept, even when the buildings that form them have been replaced by others, and also to the fact that the names of famous buildings and people are often preserved in the names of the streets themselves, it is possible to identify the sites of places of interest amongst the mass of uninteresting and ugly buildings that now make up so much of the most fascinating city in the world. I want to be severely practical, and if my article reads like a street directory, it must be borne in mind that if you go to search for the places that I propose to deal with, without some very definite guide, you are likely to waste a great deal of time with depressing results both to yourself and your scholars. the steps on the right-hand side of the road descend to the We will omit the place where Shakespeare is said to have held horses, and the sites of the theatres in Shoreditch, and confine ourselves to the buildings that still remain to us that were associated with Shakespeare in his own day, and to any streets or alleys that may be met with in our rambles. The first visit should include all that occurs in this article down to the account of the site of the Bell Inn, and another visit should be devoted to what follows. It is possible to "do" the whole round in one visit, but the attempt might conceivably distress the sheep, if not the shepherd or the shepherdess. Let us begin our ramble at the Bank, as being a wellknown centre. Go down King William Street. At the bottom of the street there is a statue of William IV. This marks the site of the Boar's Head Tavern so well known in connection with Falstaff. It may be noted that in the days of Henry IV. there were no taverns in this neighbourhood, so that Prince Hal and his boon companions could never have visited the Boar's Head, but it was there in the days of the poet and was well known to all Londoners. Cross London Bridge, and by means of some small Leave the churchyard by the gate by which you entered; turn to the right; go under the railway bridge; cross the Borough Market, and ask your way for Park Street. The tangle of streets and passages is here so complex that you will get to Park Street most quickly by asking the direction from some one in the market. On emerging in Park Street, you are con fronted by the buildings of Messrs. Barclay and Perkins' brewery. The block on the left covers the site of Globe Theatre. The Globe Theatre connected with Shakespeare was not the hexagonal building so familiar to us in many illustrations, but a round building that was destroyed by fire in 1613. Go straight on through Bank End and so down to the waterside. Turn to the left and you are in Bankside, one of Shakespeare's haunts. You are now to tread, not the very stones that he trod, but certainly a pathway that he must have trodden many scores of times. Bankside was the place where people came to be amused. There were theatres, gardens, and bearbaiting pits, and the place must often have been gay with the brilliantly clad courtiers of Queen Bess. It is rather a dirty place to-day, but boys at any rate will not find the ramble without interest, the barges, cranes, riverside loafers, and a score of other objects being sure to attract the attention of the youthful male. Walking along Bankside we observe, on the left hand, Bear Gardens. The name indicates the site of the spot where bear-baiting was practised. Turn down the narrow street. On the right-hand side is the White Bear Inn. In front of it is a rectangular space that marks the area of the old bear-pit. Turn to the left and in a few steps you reach Rose Alley on the site of the Rose Theatre, a theatre that belonged to Henslowe and A Guide to the Cathedral, price 1s. 6d., can be obtained from the publishers, Messrs. Ash & Co., or bought in the church. |