LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ST. PAUL'S INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
Sra,—Referring to your article in your impression for November 12th, will you allow me to state that the School Board does not appoint one of the managers of the St. Paul's Industrial School. It happens that one of the Board is, in his private capacity, one of the managers ; and no doubt, pressed as all the working members of the Board are with the enormous amount of work they have to deal with, he has somewhat neglected his private and voluntary duty of looking after this school.
These Voluntary Industrial Schools are under the control and inspection of the Home Office, and we send children that we have not room for in our own schools to any that hold the Home-Office certificate of efficiency.
Whether institutions of this character, semi-penal as they are, ought to be left to the care of private, irresponsible individuals, only checked by periodical Government inspection, is a point of great importance, and on which I have a very strong opinion. But that is a matter for the Home Office and Parliament, rather than for the School Board. We can do little more than administer the law as it stands.—I am, Sir,
[The School Board not only " sends children" to these Industrial Schools, but pays for them out of taxpayers' money. Consequently, it has some responsibility for their management. The Board admitted this, in ordering inquiry, and in appointing a permanent Committee of Industrial Schools.—En. Spectator.]
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