32. THE POOR LAW BOARD. Commencement of the Training of Paupers.-The systematic education of the children of paupers domiciled in workhouses has only been introduced since the New Poor Law came into operation, in 1834. The daily collecting of the children under the care of an elder pauper previous to that date, although nominally called School, could not be considered as giving them any education, and amounted to little more than keeping the children together, and preventing them from falling into mischief. Action of New Poor Law.-Under the New Poor Law, however, the subject of education became one of paramount importance. The Board very soon showed itself convinced that this must be one of the chief means to improve the condition of the poor, and to reduce the number of paupers. The various efforts which were made with a view to these desirable ends are recorded in the following chapters. Parliamentary Grants Committee of Council.-The management of Pauper Schools was for some years confided to the Officers of the Unions themselves, subject to the general control of the Poor Law Board. When, in 1846, Parliament thought fit to make grants towards the salaries of Workhouse Teachers, which were to be paid to them independently of the Guardians, the Poor Law Board considered that the duty of a systematic inspection should be performed by Government. At the same time the Board was of opinion that this would more properly devolve upon that department which had been specially created for superintending the education of the country, rather than upon the Poor Law Officers engaged with other urgent and completely different claims on their time and attention. assistance of the Committee of Council was accordingly obtained, |