62. THE FAVERSHAM EDUCATIONAL

ARRANGEMENTS.

Particulars of Faversham.-The ancient town of Faversham in Kent contains about 7,000 inhabitants; it has a Charter of Incorporation, consisting of a Mayor, four Aldermen, and twelve Councillors. The occupation of the inhabitants of the surrounding parishes consists largely in dredging for oysters, farming, brickmaking, and in the manufacture of gunpowder, and Portland and Roman cement.

Large Local Charities.-Like many ancient towns, Faversham has numerous charities with large endowments, about 3,500l. a-year being available for various purposes. These charities are administered by a body of Trustees, carefully selected and appointed for life by the Court of Chancery. The full number is sixteen-five of whom form a quorum: when, from death or other causes, the number becomes inconveniently reduced, vacancies are supplied by application to the Court. The largest fund is that bequeathed by Mr. Henry Wreight, in the year 1840, amounting to over 1,800l. per annum. According to this gentleman's will, the money was to be spent in a variety of ways, though all for the relief of the poor, in some shape or other. Fortunately, the idea seems to have struck him, that in so small a place it might be difficult at times to find proper means of employing so large a sum, and he inserted the following words towards the end of the conditions of trust, viz. :—' and [the money shall be applied] in any other way the Trustees shall think proper, and most conducive to charitable purposes in the said town.'

Effect of the Almsgiving.-As might be imagined, the Trustees had at first considerable difficulty in expending the income,

particularly as the town at that period was smaller than at present; but no sooner did it get known that so much money was going begging, than idlers and tramps began flocking to the town like birds of prey, in the hope that special relief would be granted to them. A large pension list was formed-loans of money were made to poor persons-the parish rates of some were paid-and an organised system of distribution of bread, soup, and coals was established during the winter; in short, almost every encouragement had to be held out to the poorer classes, in order to get rid of the money.

District Pauperised. The effect of this was not long in making itself felt, and the Trustees discovered that, in reality, the Charity, instead of being a blessing, was quite the reverse, for the town was becoming rapidly pauperised, not only by the influx of so large a number of immigrants, but by the demoralising influences which the gifts had on the hitherto hard-working inhabitants.

Determination of the Trustees.-Such being the case, the Trustees of the Faversham Charities determined to act on the spirit of the latter clause of the will, and expended a large amount of accumulated income arising from repaid loans, &c., in rebuilding the National School on a new site, and on a scale commensurate with the growing wants of the district. It was soon found to be desirable to develop the system of education still further, and to apply the residue of the Charity Fund to purposes more in harmony therewith. The Trustees accordingly applied to the Court of Chancery for the requisite authority, which was obtained, after some little opposition, in 1856, and a scheme for the proper use of the funds finally settled.

The outline of this was as follows:

(a) Almshouses, at a certain cost, were to be erected.

(b) 1,000l. was to be devoted to building residences for the Mistresses of the National School, as also Class and Committee Rooms, &c.

(c) A sum of 530l. per annum was to be set aside, for the Trustees to be at liberty to devote to the National School.

(d) A Commercial School for the middle-class was to be erected at a cost of 3,200/.

(e) A certain sum was placed at the Trustees' disposal for exhibitions, to be given to boys in the National and Commercial Schools, to enable them to continue at the Grammar School.

(f) A certain sum might be used for Scholarships from the Grammar School to the Universities.

(g) The idea of making a recreation ground for the use of the town was afterwards added to the scheme, and the Court of Chancery gave its authority for the necessary cost being defrayed from the Wreight funds.

(h) In addition to these objects, other useful and charitable objects were provided for.

The Grammar School. Such was the scheme, and, with the Grammar School founded by Dr. John Cole in 1527, and restored by Queen Elizabeth in 1576, the income of which amounts to about 370/. (but at present reduced by certain outpayments for new buildings on the farm to 280/), it forms the system of education provided for the town. The working of each branch will now be briefly considered.

THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS.

Plan of Schools.-These Schools are all Day Schools, with the exception of some Evening Classes for boys and men, held during the winter months. They are conducted on the wholetime system, there being no Industrial Training, and not even any drill. They are divided into the Infant School for boys and girls under seven, the Girls' School for girls over seven, and the Boys' School for boys over that age.

All Girls wear a Pinafore in School.-A feature in the Girls' School, which gives it a pleasing appearance to a visitor, is the custom of making each child, while at work, wear a white pinafore, which is left behind on quitting the schoolroom. The appearance of these white uniforms gives a clean and fresh aspect to the classes.

Instruction. The course of instruction does not go beyond that usually pursued in ordinary National Schools, with the addition of needlework for the girls though, as a proof that the instruction is sound, it should be stated that, last year, the inspector, Rev. G. R. Moncrieff, reported that 'results of the standard work were high, about 94 per cent. on the very large number presented.'

Mixture of Social Classes.-In one respect there is a great difference between the Girls' and Boys' Schools. In the latter