Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; London (England) -- Description and travel
Into what admirable soldiers others of these boys have the capabilities
for being turned, I need not point out. Many of them are always
ambitious of military service; and once upon a time when an old boy came
back to see the old place, a cavalry soldier all complete, _with his
spurs on_, such a yearning broke out to get into cavalry regiments and
wear those sublime appendages, that it was one of the greatest
excitements ever known in the school. The girls make excellent domestic
servants, and at certain periods come back, a score or two at a time, to
see the old building, and to take tea with the old teachers, and to hear
the old band, and to see the old ship with her masts towering up above
the neighbouring roofs and chimneys. As to the physical health of these
schools, it is so exceptionally remarkable (simply because the sanitary
regulations are as good as the other educational arrangements), that when
Mr. TUFNELL, the Inspector, first stated it in a report, he was supposed,
in spite of his high character, to have been betrayed into some
extraordinary mistake or exaggeration. In the moral health of these
schools—where corporal punishment is unknown—Truthfulness stands high.
When the ship was first erected, the boys were forbidden to go aloft,
until the nets, which are now always there, were stretched as a
precaution against accidents. Certain boys, in their eagerness,
disobeyed the injunction, got out of window in the early daylight, and
climbed to the masthead. One boy unfortunately fell, and was killed.
There was no clue to the others; but all the boys were assembled, and the
chairman of the Board addressed them. ‘I promise nothing; you see what a
dreadful thing has happened; you know what a grave offence it is that has
led to such a consequence; I cannot say what will be done with the
offenders; but, boys, you have been trained here, above all things, to
respect the truth. I want the truth. Who are the delinquents?’
Instantly, the whole number of boys concerned, separated from the rest,
and stood out.
Now, the head and heart of that gentleman (it is needless to say, a good
head and a good heart) have been deeply interested in these schools for
many years, and are so still; and the establishment is very fortunate in
a most admirable master, and moreover the schools of the Stepney Union
cannot have got to be what they are, without the Stepney Board of
Guardians having been earnest and humane men strongly imbued with a sense
of their responsibility. But what one set of men can do in this wise,
another set of men can do; and this is a noble example to all other
Bodies and Unions, and a noble example to the State. Followed, and
enlarged upon by its enforcement on bad parents, it would clear London
streets of the most terrible objects they smite the sight with—myriads of
little children who awfully reverse Our Saviour’s words, and are not of
the Kingdom of Heaven, but of the Kingdom of Hell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account