been gained to enable the Council to adapt the plan most approved in Europe, to local circumstances, the Deputy Governor hopes that the Institution may be made subservient to the training of young men for the higher situations in the Government Colleges; but His Honor thinks, that it will be sufficient at present, for the Council to confine their endeavours to the education of a class of Masters competent to take charge of a Zillah school, and to instruct a class up to the junior scholarship standard. The The Model School, therefore, need not comprise a greater number of classes than that of which the school department under the new scheme of study is composed. School Society's School, supposing the objection above noticed to be removed, might answer the purpose, but the Deputy Governor is inclined to think, that the number of boys belonging to that school is so large that the Superintendent and his assistant would find it extremely difficult to attend to them properly, and still more to direct and superintend the studies of their Normal pupils. Perhaps it would be preferable to open another school, in a central locality, for about 150 pupils, exclusive of the Normal class, unconnected with the Hindu College, and directly subor dinate to the Council. As the pupils of the Model School would be instructed in the best possible manner under the immediate direction of the Superintendent, the Council would probably think it right to require them to pay at least the same rate of schooling as is now demanded from the boys of the School Society's School. Upon this source, indeed, as well as upon the funds available in consequence of the alteration in the Patna College, must depend the means of establishing the Normal School on an efficient footing. The Normal class, as proposed by the Council, may properly consist of twenty students, upon a monthly stipend of 12 Rupees each, but the number of free students may perhaps advantageously be limited nearly to the same extent, so that the Superintendent may not have more than forty or fifty Normal pupils at the same time under his direction. In other respects, the 2d, 3d and 4th proposals contained in the Council's plan meet with the Deputy Governor's concurrence. The terms on which the Council propose to allow deserving teachers already employed in the public service, to study in the Normal class for short periods, are perhaps not too favorable, but it may also be necessary to been entertained. Mr. W. J. Thornicroft, 2d Master, 150 Baboo Bissonath Sing, 3d Master, Öne Writer, Four Servants, One Duftry, 90 20 21 6 The subjoined notification announcing the formation of the school, was published for general information: "The Hon'ble the Deputy Governor of Bengal having resolved that a Normal Institution shall be forthwith established in Calcutta, those interested are hereby informed, that the said Insti tution will in the first instance consist of a Normal School composed of stipendiary and free students, together with an elementary Model School. 2. "The stipendiary Normal students will be allowed each, during the period of a monthly salary of Rs. 12 mal Institution, which shall their attendance in the Norin no case exceed two years. They must be between the ages of 16 and 24 years, have no physical defects disqualifying them for the active duties of their future profession, must produce satisfactory testimonials as to conduct, character, and qualifications, and must enter into an agreement to serve, if required, in the Educational department, for at least 3 years, at whatever station require those of less merit to pass through a similar course without remuneration, as a condition of further employment. With regard to the 6th Rule of the Council's plan, it appears to the Deputy Governor that it might be preferable to leave the duty of examining candidates for admission to the Superintendent, who, if selected for his practical knowledge of the Normal system, will probably be better able to judge of their fitness than a separate Committee of Examiners. Although it may, in practice, be hereafter found that the youths educated at the Normal School are generally selected to fill vacant situations in the Education service, yet it will be impracticable, for many years, to confine the privilege to them, and hence perhaps it will be better to omit the 8th Rule altogether, especially as it has no necessary connexion with the plan of the school. The 10th Rule may also be omitted with advantage, as the details of instructions had better be entirely left to the Superintendent, subject to the approval of the Council. Supposing the Council on further deliberation, to determine upon recommending the establishment of a separate Model School, instead of taking the School Society's School for the purpose, it will be necessary to consider the propriety either of renting, purchasing, or building a suitable house. If the Superintendent is provided with apartments in the house, a salary of Rupees 500 a month will, in the Deputy Governor's opinion, be amply sufficient for him." they may be appointed to 3. "The free students must conform to the same regulations as regards age, character, and qualifications, but will be allowed to dispose of themselves at their option after completing the prescribed course of study. Previous to the admission of any students of either class an examination of all such candidates as may present themselves will be held by the Superintendent, of which due notice will be given. 4. "The Elementary Model School will consist at first of seventy-five pupils, who will be classified according to the system at present prevalent in the school departments of the Government Colleges. Each pupil shall pay a schooling fee of Rs. 2 per mensem." Two examinations for admission of Normal pupils have taken place; at the first, twelve were passed, and at the second, eight. The Model School filled rapidly, and might have been quadrupled had there been space in the house to accommodate more pupils. Any modifications of plan and arrangement that may be required, will be elicited by the examination that will be held at the conclusion of the first year; in the mean time the Council have not interfered with the system adopted by the Superintendent, which will be detailed by that officer in his first report. The present object of the Council is to supply a better qualified class of Masters for the lower grades of the Education service, and gradually to extend its operations until the Institution shall be able to supply all existing demands for well informed and efficient Vernacular as well as English Teachers. During the past year we have been indebted to the Honorable Sir Herbert Maddock for Medals and Benefactors. Prizes assigned by him to the Hindu, Hooghly, Sanscrit, Mahomedan and Medical Colleges, concerning which detailed particulars will be found in the special reports of those Institutions. Mr. D. Money again presented his Medals to the Hooghly College, and Lord Arthur Hay made over his valuable Ornithological and other collections of Natural History to the Museum of the Medical College, where they are placed, by desire of the donor, under the special charge of Mr. H. Walker, who will furnish a specification of their nature and extent hereafter. Dr. Mouat's cabinet of Mineralogy and Geology has arrived, and been made over to the same Institution. The Library of the late Medical and Physical Society has also been assigned to the Medical College, under conditions specified in the report of that College. of Colleges. The detailed reports of the Colleges and Schools under our charge, follow in their usual order; Detailed Reports but as they are now annually printed and distributed in a separate form, we do not deem it advisable to reprint them in detail-an abstract of the contents of each is therefore all that will be found in our annual volume. The Appendix, however, is not curtailed, as the documents contained in it are of more general and permanent interest. |