In his general report for the year 1878, issued with
the report of the Education Department, Mr. Matthew Arnold, as one of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, gives some interesting figures with reference to the cost of elementary education in England, and contrasts it with the cost of maintenance of elementary schools in France. The result of the calculation is that the annual cost of education for each child in Board Schools in London, is 55s. 11d., in the country, 43s. 10K The cost in France is 18s. Id. per child ; thus we spend more than three times as much per child in London, and more than twice as much per child in the country, as is spent in France. Mr. Arnold allows for the great difference of circumstances between France and England, including, it is presumed, the unavoidable difference in the scales of salaries to teachers ; but maintains that the French boy learns as much for the lesser sum as the English boy with the greater outlay, and gives the London School Board the advice, " Simplify." He is "quite sure that their aniception of what is requisite in the way of accommodation, studies, salaries, administration, is pitched too high." Mr. Arnold desires to see secondary educa- tion made a public service, and dreads the effects of the present large outlay on elementary education, because it is likely to delay indefinitely that desired result, ratepayers being alarmed already. A sum of 35s. per scholar is the outside limit which Mr. Arnold would lay down, as enough in every way to provide effioient education. Our School Boards are "in the air," he tolls us; "they proceed as if they were educationists in Utopia."
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