LAUD'S EDUCATIONAL POLICY.

99

their several diocesses, not doubting of either your care, or their forwardness in this so necessary a service"-to wit the voluntary contributions of the whole clergy-"towards the support of this so necessary and justifiable a warlike defence." The result of this appeal from the Defender of the Faith was that the two Prelates recommended that the Bishops should by "all forcible reason incite licensed schoolmasters "that with all readiness they do contribute unto this noble action '."

In 1636 Archbishop Laud reported to the King, from the certificate sent to him by Matthew Wren, Bishop of Norwich, that measures had been taken for bringing that diocese into perfect order, and asking at the same time for instructions respecting scholars acting as schoolmasters in private houses, and on other points of ecclesiastical discipline. In Wren's orders and directions given in the diocese of Norwich we find the provision "that none of what rank soever do keep any chaplains, schoolmasters, ministers or scholars in their houses to read prayers and expound scriptures, or to instruct their family, unless they be thereunto enabled by law?" This was a sufficiently strong measure, but it was destined to be surpassed after the Restoration.

Comenius, the educational reformer (1592-1671).

It is noteworthy at this period, when the Church under the direction of the Crown was assuming an inquisitorial attitude towards all instruction, that Parliament had in its mind the reformation of the whole system of national education. The name of John Amos Comenius, the first great continental writer on the theory of education, if we gang Ratke (1571-1635), was not unknown in England. His views were possibly familiar to many thinkers. He was anxious to make learning absolutely universal. He desired that "tous les enfants, riches ou pauvres, et quelle que soit leur naissance, doivent aller à l'école. Tous doivent

1 Cardwell's Documentary Annals.

except Wolf

2 Ibid.

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COMENIUS AND PESTALOZZI.

apprendre tout; car chaque homme est un microcosme. Non pas que chacun puisse posséder à fond toutes les sciences, mais tous doivent apprendre à observer toutes les choses importantes, à réfléchir sur leur raison d'être, sur leurs rapports et leur utilité; car tous sont destinés à n'être pas simples spectateurs, mais aussi acteurs." Comenius advocated class teaching; he echoed Bacon's complaint as to the absence of experimental teaching in science; he desired an attractive system of education with kindly teachers, spacious class-rooms, and good play-grounds. His ideas were revived by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) and many of our modern and best methods can be traced back to the great Bohemian. Comenius recommended four stages of education: first definite home teaching of infants, then primary schools for all children without distinction, thirdly Latin or grammar schools, and lastly the Universities and foreign travel.

Proposed education Commission,

1641.

It was to this original thinker that the English Parliament proposed to submit the scholastic system of England. In 1641 he seems to have been invited by Parliament to join a Commission intended to be appointed for the reform of the existing system of education. He arrived in England in September, 16412, only to find that the disturbed condition of the country rendered the appointment of the Commission on education an impossibility. He waited until August, 1642, when he passed on to Sweden, where he was given some opportunity of elaborating his educational system. 21. The Interregnum from the death of Charles I. to the restoration of Charles II. presents some remarkable examples of State interference in education which must be mentioned here, though the legislation does not appear, for reasons that have no longer

The Commonwealth and education.

1 See Larousse, Dictionnaire Universelle (1869).

2 See John Amos Comenius, by S. S. Laurie, pp. 74-5, 170-186. We may doubt if he was officially invited by the English Parliament.

EDUCATION IN WALES.

101

any rational weight, among the statutes at large'. By "an Act for the better Propagation and Preaching of the Gospel in Wales, and redress of some grievances. Die veneris, 22 Februarii, 1649," which was ordered by the Parliament to be forthwith printed and published, the first of three notable attempts to evangelise and educate Wales was made. The Act recited that "The Parliament of England taking into their serious consideration the great Duty and Trust that lies on them to use all lawful ways and means for the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this Commonwealth, in order thereunto, Do Enact and Ordain, and be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament, and by the Authority thereof, That [here follow 70 names] are hereby constituted and appointed to be Commissioners in [the 12 Welsh counties and Monmouthshire]...That they the said Commissioners or any five or more of them, shall have full power and authority, and are hereby enabled and authorized to receive all articles or Charges which shall be exhibited against any Parson, Vicar, Curate, Schoolmaster, or any other now having, or that shall have any Ecclesiastical benefit or promotion within the said counties or any of them, for any Delinquency, Scandal, Malignancy, or nonResidency; and upon such Articles so exhibited, to grant out Warrants in Writing under the Hands and Seals of the said Commissioners, or any five or more of them, to be directed to the party against whom such Articles shall be exhibited, requiring his appearance before such Commissioners." It is clear that Parliament regarded a schoolmastership as an appointment that ranked with a benefice. The Commissioners

Welsh Education Act, 1649.

1 It is a matter of considerable inconvenience to students that the legislation from 1640 to 1660 is excluded from the statutes at large. An authorised version of such statutes might well be published. The official Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland gives the Commonwealth legislation for Scotland 1648-1660 (vol. vI. pt. II.)

" London: Printed by Edward Husband and John Field, Printers to the Parliament of England, 1649.

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THE COMMONWEALTH AND WELSH EDUCATION.

were intended to combine in their own persons the powers of ecclesiastical and civil tribunals over schoolmasters.

The Act after dealing with these offences proceeds: "And to the end that godly and painful men, of able gifts and knowledge for the Work of the Ministery, and of approved conversation for Piety may be imployed to preach the Gospel in the counties aforesaid (which heretofore abounded in Ignorance and Prophaneness) And that fit persons of approved Piety and Learning, may have encouragement to employ themselves in the education of Children in Piety and good literature, Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners, or any five or more of them, be and are authorized and enabled to grant Certificates by way of approbation to such persons as shall be recommended and approved by [here follow 25 names], Ministers of the Gospel, or any five or more of them, for the preaching of the Gospel in the said Counties, as well in setled Congregations and Parochial Charges, as in an Itinerary course, as the said Commissioners (by the advice of such the said Ministers as shall recommend and approve of the said persons respectively) shall adjudge to be most for the advancement of the Gospel, or for the keeping of Schools, and education of Children.'

Moreover, in order to provide a fitting maintenance for persons recommended and approved, the Commissioners, or any twelve or more of them, were directed to receive and dispose for that purpose of all and singular the rents, issues and profits of all ecclesiastical livings within the disposal of Parliament "provided that the yearly maintenance of a Minister do not exceed One hundred pounds, and the yearly maintenance of a School-master exceed not Forty pounds; and the Commissioners, or any twelve or more of them, were authorized "to make such yearly allowance to the Wife and Children of such godly Minister after his decease, as to the said Commissioners or any twelve of them shall seem reasonable, for the necessary support and maintenance of the said

THE COMMONWEALTH AND NATIONAL EDUCATION. 103

Wife or Children, or any of them; Provided always, That such allowance so to be made to such Wife and Children, do not exceed the yearly sum of thirty pounds." The Act was merely of a provisional nature and was ordered to be in force for three years from March 25, 1650, and no longer.

This remarkable Act of Parliament shows clearly that the question of national education was vividly before the mind of the legislators of the Commonwealth. We can point to at least one secondary school that owes its existence to these Republican Church and School Commissioners for Wales. The Cardigan Free Grammar School was founded and endowed by order of the Commissioners for the Propagation of the Gospel in Wales in 1653. After the Restoration the endowment reverted to its original owners, and the school was subsequently supported by the corporation of Cardiff aided by a private endowment of the year 1731'. In the same year as the Act for Wales was passed a law dealing with general education was placed upon the Statute Book.

First-fruits

diverted to
education.

By Chapter 31 of the year 1649 the first-fruits and tenths created by Henry VIII. were vested in trustees upon trust "to pay yearly, all such Salaries, and tenths Stipends, Allowances and provisions, as have been limited or appointed for preaching the Gospel, Preaching Ministers, or Schoolmasters or others in England or Wales, setled or confirmed by Ordinance or Order of Parliament," and then to pay such provisions, settlements, yearly allowances and augmentations as had been made or confirmed by authority derived from Parliament for preaching ministers or schoolmasters for so long as had been or should be ordered by Parliament; such payments, to the extent of £18,000, to be paid out of the King's tithe rent of £20,000, while the residue of the said tithe rent was to be applied to the increase of the maintenance of the masterships of the colleges

1 See Reports of Inquiries of Charity Commissioners, vol. XXVIII. (1834), p. 593.