No. 7.-REPORT on the BALLYMENA INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, by the District Inspector, W. A. HUNTER, Esq. Ballymena, April, 1849.

GENTLEMEN, I have the honor to submit the following Report on the Ballymena Industrial Schools, for the information of the Commissioners of National Education.

It may be safely stated that the Institution no longer appears in the light of an experiment; it is clearly evident that industrial and literary education may be combined with advantage and success.

Since the opening of these schools, in May, 1847, 63 boys and 55 girls have been admitted (all of the most destitute class); there are on the rolls at present 46 boys and 42 girls; the average for the year has been 33 boys and 31 girls; ages 7 to 14, more than half between 9 and 12.

The system of supplying the children with two meals daily of plain wholesome food remains unchanged.

In Summer the schools open at 7 A.M. and close at 5 P.M., about five hours being devoted to industrial occupation; in Winter they open at 8 and close at 4, and four hours are given to work; the remaining time is occuped by lessons, exercise, and meals.

The work in the female school consists in knitting, sewing, mending, &c. A parcel of made-up clothing has been forwarded for sale to the "Irish Work Society," London, through the patroness of the school, Mrs. A. Shafto Adair. A considerable quantity of work has been done for the public at a remunerating price; the net profit from the girls' work will amount to £20 for the year; out of this sum the Ladies' Committee have appropriated £3 toward clothing for the children, leaving £17 to be carried to the credit of the Institution. The chief part of this work was done by 15 or 20 girls, there being always a number of beginners whose work is unprofitable; the cooking, cleaning, scouring, &c., is performed by the girls.

The industrial occupation of the boys for the past year has been as follows:

I. Gardening and Agriculture.-A garden containing somewhat more than a rood was brought into cultivation last year. The cost of manure and seed was £2 10s., the receipts (inclusive of vegetables used in the house, &c.) amounted to £7 7s. 2d. leaving a profit of £4 17s. 2d. It should be observed that the ground was not cultivated as a garden previously, and that it was late in the season before operations were commenced; this year the agricultural employment has been greatly extended; a garden and field containing upwards of 3 acres, and forming part of the demesne of Sir R. Shafto Adair have been kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee; this has been thorough-drained since the first of February; the drains were opened at the expense of the landlord, and the boys prepared the stones and filled them; the Spring labour is in a tolerably forward state.

II. Street Sweeping.—A contract has been entered into with the Town Commissioners to sweep the streets and remove the manure, for £30 per annum; two donkeys and carts were procured for this

purpose; it is calculated that the value of the manure will cover the expenditure, thus leaving the above sum to the credit of the Institution. This work is particularly suitable in connexion with the farm, inasmuch the boys are required on the streets just at the time when they would not have full employment on the land, and vice versâ. III. Shoemaking.-Three boys are employed, two of whom can finish a common shoe when the work is prepared for them. The shoemaker has been paid latterly according to the quantity of work done, instead of being engaged by the week; the proceeds of the work will cover all expenses, but there will be no profit after paying the wages of the shoemaker.

IV. Tailoring-Attention of late has been confined to making and mending for the establishment, two boys are employed when required; a tailor is brought in for an hour or two occasionally, and when he cuts and prepares the work, the boys can finish it themselves.

Some of the younger boys who are unfit for any other kind of work have made great progress in knitting.

Employment in agriculture has been preferred to trades, from a consideration that an artificial impulse to the latter would tend to expose the regular tradesman to unfair competition; while increased production of food, and increase of agricultural knowledge must be beneficial to all.

The schools have laboured under some disadvantages from the temporary absence of both teachers while at the training establishment; the master having completed the course at the Model Schools, is now preparing himself at Glasnevin as an agricultural teacher. The Committee were fortunate in securing the services of a young man brought up in the Larne school as a substitute teacher; under his instructions the boys have made respectable progress in agricultural knowledge.

The accounts of the year will not be prepared till the 1st of May, but the subjoined statement will be found to be substantially

correct.

As the agricultural operations cannot be carried on without suitable buildings, I have no doubt but steps will be taken to have such erected in the course of the ensuing year; it is likely that this subject will be brought before the annual meeting (in May or June), after which application will probably be made to the Commissioners for a building grant.

The very flourishing state of this Institution is owing chiefly to the liberal patronage and support of Sir. R. Shafto Adair, and his son, A. Shafto Adair, Esq., M.P., met as it has been by a corresponding generosity on the part of the public of Ballymena.

The unwearied attention of the ladies has placed the Industrial Department of the female school in a most satisfactory condition. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,

The Secretaries,

Your obedient servant,

W. A. HUNTER,
District Inspector.

Education Office,

STATEMENT of the INCOME and EXPENDITURE of the BALLYMENA INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, for the Year ending 1st May, 1849.

No. 8.-REPORT on the BELFAST LANCASTERIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, by the District Inspector, D. L. BLAKELY, Esq.

As has been stated in my previous Reports, "this establishment is for girls exclusively." There are at present on the Books 108; the highest number on the Books during the past year, 121; average attendance for past year, 94.

On the 17th April (instant,) there were present 87, whose proficiency in literary branches will appear from the following table; the portion of each week-day devoted to these is from 3 o'clock, P.M., to 6 P.M.

The industrial branches being strictly attended to, every pupil, on being admitted, is set to work, those who can do nothing better, to sew the plainest seam, from this they progress to the more difficult parts of plain work as they best can, some advancing rapidly, others but slowly. The deficiency in a knowledge of almost any kind of needle-work, or even knitting, found among all the pupils when admitted was lamentable; some there were whose case appeared hopeless, nevertheless by the unwearied attention of the ladies who have superintended the institution, and the aid of efficient teachers, improvement, in many instances most respectable and in all considerable, has been effected. The following table will illustrate this, it being borne in mind that some 18 months since the hands now so usefully employed, may have been extended for alms in the public streets, if not at a worse occupation. The time devoted to the industrial branches is from 10 o'clock, A.M., to 12 P.M.

Of 87 girls, whom I found present, all can sew and knit more or less.

20 can make shirts or other fine work. 29 can do any kind of plain knitting.

fancy do.
plain netting.

2

8 can do any kind of fancy netting. crotchet work. 33 (many only 7 years of age) have made their own dresses.

In addition, the more advanced among the pupils can wash and

iron clothes, and what is of great importance (in high and low) they know how to clean up the different rooms, as the kitchen, &c.; the cooking of plain food of different kinds is also attended to, and by this means these young creatures learn to make a comfortable meal from rice, &c., which is more than their parents could do not long since.

The Belfast Industrial School has been in operation for rather more than two years, and has fully realized the expectations of those ladies by whose almost unparalleled exertions its original establishment was effected, and to whose unwearied attention its present position is to be attributed. And here I cannot do better than repeat the different classes of children who are eligible for admission:-1st. Orphans bereaved of parents, but provided with shelter for the night at the house of some friend; 2nd. children of destitute widows; 3rd. neglected children; 4th. special cases of poverty.

That these rules have been rigidly adhered to will appear from the following:-Of 50 pupils admitted during the year 1848, 36 were the children of widows; 7 orphans; 2 whose mothers were dead; 5 had both parents alive.

That there is no distinction made on the grounds of "Religious Sect" will appear from the fact, that of the 108 pupils at present on the Books, 47 are Roman Catholics, 34 are Episcopalians, and 27 are Presbyterians.

With reference to the expense incurred, per annum, for each pupil, it cannot at present, from various causes, be accurately ascertained; several donations, such as bread-stuffs of different kinds, have been received, and on these a value was not placed so as to bring them into the dietary account; in future this item will be carefully balanced.

That this institution is not self-supporting must be evident when it is known that the children, with a few exceptions, are from 6 to 12 years of age; add to this their previous mode of life, want of education or training of any kind, and that they should be able to contribute by their work almost any thing towards the funds of the institution, will appear very unlikely. However, the majority have earned a little, a few a considerable sum, in any way or other, sewing, or knitting, or netting, and we may reasonable expect that by the end of another year a large addition shall been made in the item of "proceeds of work."

As regards the children, I feel much pleasure in bearing testimony to their uniform orderly conduct and tidy appearance; one has only to see their countenances to know they are healthy and happy, and the smiling faces which welcome the ladies, bear ample proof that these young creatures acknowledge them as their benefactors.

The Infant School under the management of the Ladies' Committee, is in a flourishing state; it continues, as previously, altogether independent of the Industrial Department, the pupils paying ld. per week for tuition, but receiving neither food nor clothing; average daily attendance for last year, 105. D. L. BLAKELY,

April, 1849.

District Inspector.

No. 9.-REPORT on the CARRICKMACROSS CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, by the District Inspector, J. R. BUTLER, Esq.

Drogheda, April, 1849. GENTLEMEN,-I beg to forward a Special Report on the Carrickmacross Central Industrial National School, No. 5617.

This school came into operation in the month of February last, and is conducted by Miss Harriet Smith, a most skilful and a most zealous teacher.

Built for industrial purposes, the room of one story is sufficiently lighted and ventilated, has every convenience for the teacher, for the accommodation of 213 pupils, and the preservation of the work at which they may be employed; already 138 girls, principally adults, have been in daily attendance. In the last week of March, ultimo, the potato planting compelled many to withdraw for a time, reducing the attendance to 100.

At first, industrial instruction alone was given; by a recent arrangement, affording general satisfaction, the manager has provided for literary instruction, during two hours of each of the first five week-days, when the school opens at 10 and closes at 3 o'clock, industrial employment embracing 3 hours of that interval, and 2 hours on each Saturday from 10 until 12 o'clock.

To the more substantial work of knitting, sewing, and quilting, the pupils are as yet confined; with the exception of 15 engaged in fancy and lace work, it is wisely ordered that they should be first taught how to minister to the humbler and daily wants of their homes. It is worthy of remark, that from the first start, their work is made productive. For instruction, it needs not there should be

waste.

Of all necessary material, I found an ample supply, from delaines to fine muslin, with the required implements of spools, needles, &c. The manager reserves the sale of the work done until the next month. When furnished with the accounts of the expenditure and receipts, I shall be able to report to the Commissioners the result as to profit or loss.

This school has been, in my judgment, happily styled "Central." From the many vested National Schools, building, or already built in Farney, it may insure and select the full attendance it can accommodate, from these schools; the good conduct and proficiency of the girls will be a passport to an instruction of a higher order, and more productive of emolument.

The promise of a local and active co-operation from several quarconsiderable; and Mr. Kennedy's efforts, so eminently successful in benefiting this locality, will, I do hope confidently, be equally happy in school management. He feels that the Commissioners of National Education have lent him a powerful and generous aid.

I have the honor to be, gentlemen,

Your obedient servant,

To the Secretaries, &c.

JAMES R. BUTLER,