Intermediate Schools in Ireland. By M. C. Rime, LL.D. (simpkin
and Marshall.)—Dr. Rime gives fifteen reasons why Irish sehoole are not as pxosperous as they should be, reasons which do not, he thiuks, affect English schools, in the same degree, if at all. We do not quite understand which are the English schools with which Dr. Rime com- pares those of his own country. We suppose that they must be the country grammar-schools, or private schools of about tho same standing. Whatever they are, Dr. Hinae has a very bad opinion of them :—" The general tone of tho boys is bad, the instruction imparted of a most meagre description, and the assistants, as well as the head masters (or principals, or wardens, or by whatever name they wish to call themselves), if University men at all, University men of the lowest type and most undistinguished order. Indeed, in those schools, odu- cation, in the highest sense of the word, is a thing not understood, nor dreamt of." It must be very aggravating to See pupils -diverted from the admirable inetitutions which Dr. Hime de- scribes, to such contemptible places. However, the conditions of the schools are much more alike in the two countries than Dr. Iiime thinks. The proportion of lay head masters (this is the first of Dr. Rime's causes) is not greater here than in Ireland. The endowments are not much larger (few English schools have more than £500 per annum, and some of the best have no endowment at all). In exhibitions we are probably rieher, but the inspection which Dr. Rime desiderates is just as much wanted hero as in Ireland. Head masters have seldom any pensions, retiring, if they retire, on the provision of a living (an incidental argument in favour of clerical masters). "Scandal ' (we go through Dr, Ilime's causes in order) is at least as rife here as in Ireland, and some of ous schools have as few "geographical "advantages. Most of the grammar.schools have free scholars, or scholars received for fees so small as to mean the same thing; nee do they fail to find an active coma petition in the good primary schools that arc to be found everywhere. Dr. llime's other reasons we shall give without comment : the system of corporal punishment, the popularity of grinding establishments, the existence and success of so many largo day-schools, the disestablish. meat of the Church, the increased cost of living. One fact that Dr. Rime mentions is, to our mind, the most significant. In Irish schools the average number of " day boys " not free is about eight.
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