[244] Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 17, in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 90, 99; General Order of 5th February 1842, arts. 13-16, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 82-83, 99; General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, arts. 102-106, and Form (N). [245] Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 115-116. [246] General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 24, and Instructional Letter of the same date, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 84, 116. This was repeated in the General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 117. [247] Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 17; in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 90. No provision was made for the supply of any books for the use of the inmates, whether sick or well--not even Bibles and prayer-books; and it was thus made unlawful for the boards of guardians to have provided these, even if they had wished to do so--unless, indeed, it would have been held by the Auditor that they were "reasonably necessary." The point seems never to have been raised. The education provided for the children was of the scantiest. It was confined to "boys and girls," without definition of age, and it was thus left to the boards of guardians to begin it as late and to terminate it as early as they chose. It was to consist of instruction for three hours a day "at least," in "reading, writing, and the principles of the Christian religion," together with "such other instructions" as were "calculated to train them to habits of usefulness, industry, and virtue."[248] Apparently arithmetic was thought not to come under this definition, as it was added in 1842.[249] Shoe making was approved in 1845 in the case of Poplar.[250] A schoolmaster or schoolmistress needed only to be appointed "if the guardians shall think fit"; and the Central Authority thus left it open to guardians to impose the task of instruction on the porter or matron--this being actually mentioned in the Instructional Letters[251]--or on an aged pauper--a course which was frequently adopted without rebuke. If a schoolmaster or schoolmistress was appointed no qualification was required.[252] No provision was made for playrooms, playthings, or even playing time for children of any age. [248] Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 16, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 90. [249] General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 22, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 83. [250] MS. Minutes, Poplar Board of Guardians, 15th January 1845. [251] Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 124. [252] This remained so even in the General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 167.