LONDON EDUCATION.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—May I be allowed to point out, in reference to the letter in the Spectator of March 12th from Mr. C. H. Fox, with whose remarks on the necessity of "the earnest teaching, of virtue" I most heartily concur, that systematic instruction in social morality with this precise object has always been an integral part of the training given at the Birkbeck Schools that were founded by William Ellis in the middle of the last century, mainly in order that this very teaching of virtue and duty might have a fair trial P Having carefully thought out the subject, and also taught it himself in all grades of society from Buckingham Palace down to a criminal reformatory, he elaborated a series of " Progressive Lessons in Social Science " for the use of teachers, in order to assist them to lead their pupils, by means of a graduated series of Socratic questions and discussions, through a careful examination into the con- sequences of various lines of conduct affecting themselves, their families, and their fellow-creatures. They were led to express their convictions as to which course it would be their duty to adopt, and why,—what ought to be thought of them if they failed to adopt it, and what they could be doing at once to assist themselves to become the kind of people they said they wished to be. The result of this training was eminently satisfactory, and Dr. Wormell, the late Head- Master of the City Corporation Schools, was so struck with it that he adopted it himself, as he considered it essential to the formation of that keen and strong sense of duty which The late Miss Davenport Hill, who represented the City for so many years on the School Board, valued it also highly, and did her best to introduce it into the Board-schools, unfor- tunately with but meagre success. Education, if it is to be Of real use, either in stemming the tide of pauperism or _raising the character of the people, must embrace something more than the elements of literary or scientific knowledge. It must also include some teaching of the conditions upon which earthly well-being depends, and training to obey those conditions. Although I must not trespass on your valuable -space to enter more in detail as to the course and method of duty teaching pursued with success by William Ellis and those he trained, I- shall be happy to give further information to correspondents who care to inquire.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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