NATIONAL

After public attention had been drawn to the advantages of Dr. Bell's system of mutual instruction in schools, chiefly through the activity of Mr. Lancaster, two societies were formed in England for carrying it into general operation. The British and Foreign School Society was founded by Di enters in IHO"); the National Society, by members of the establishment, a few years later. The instruction of the former, in religion, is confined to those points in which all are agreed; that of the latter is founded on the liturgy and catechism of the established church. The schools of these two societies are now extensively spread over the face of the kingdom. The education given by them is nearly gratuitous, but certain small payments are in some cases exacted. Mr. Hill, in his work on the state of education in England, estimates the children attending schools of the former union at (50,000 or 80,000, and those of the National Schools at about 170,000; but these calculations seem to be founded chiefly on probabilities.The same writer estimates the average length of education in these schools at about two years for each child. Reading, writing, and arithmetic, with religious knowledge according to the principles of the respective institutions,form the amount of education generally given: but in some schools geography, and even the elements of geometry, are taught; and attempts have been made to add instruction in various branches of manual industry, Each society has a model school, and establishment for training teachers. That of the British and Foreign Is in the Borough Road: the principal one of the National In the Sanctuary, Westminster; but it has others in different places. SCHOOLS, [s. 1110]