On Wednesday Professor Huxley moved in the Metropolitan ' School
Board for a committee to consider the scheme of education to be adopted in the public elementary schools, and to report thereon. He supposed the sort of schools most wanted in the wain would be schools for children between seven and fourteen ; 'but they would also want preparatory or infant schools, and supplementary or night schools. He also asked to have a report on the best bridge between the ordinary elementary school and higher schools, and even ultimately leading to the Universities, for children who might show special ability. He also wanted a -report on the merits of the half-time system,—on the hours to be given to schooling generally,—and, again, as to the subjects to be -taught, on the best mode of steering between the Scylla and Charybdis of too little and too much teaching. He called the 'Government system the Scylla, for children were there taught the tools of learning, but were not allowed to use them afterwards. Professor Huxley would not admit that English children are stupid. lie thought the finest intellectual raw material in Europe was that of Italian and English children. He wanted both draw- ing and music taught in every elementary school—which is all very well, but we hope the Board will let unfortunate wretches -off who have no fingers for drawing and no ears for music. Whatever the new schools do, we hope they will not make a moral duty of teaching many special sorts of things against the grain. That is neither discipline nor instruction. The committee was appointed.
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