after having made inquiries about a great variety of female occupations, i have come to the conclusion that teaching is still the most suitable, and, under certain circumstances, the most remunerative, employment open to women. but an ordinary education no longer qualifies a woman for the position of governess16 in any educational establishment; if she wishes to be tolerably certain of securing an engagement it is necessary that she should be certificated, or, still better, have completed her education at girton, newnham, or one of the new halls opened at oxford, and it is most desirable that she should pass the new examination of teachers instituted by the teachers' training syndicate of cambridge.
training for middle and higher class teaching.
the training college for teachers in middle and higher schools for girls (temporary address, skinner street, bishopsgate street) trains ladies who have completed their school education as teachers in middle and higher schools for girls for this examination.
the council have obtained as a practising school, the bishopsgate middle class girls' school. there are two divisions in the college. the course is of one year for students entering the upper division, and two years for the lower division. the following are the rules of this institution:—
the college year is divided into three terms, each of about thirteen weeks, beginning respectively in the middle of september and january, and the beginning of may. the hours of attendance are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on every day but saturday.
17
fees, ￡8 per term, payable in advance.
no residence is provided for the students, but the principal will be prepared to recommend homes to those students who require them. students must be above the age of seventeen for the lower division, and eighteen for the higher division, at the time of admission, and must pass an entrance examination, unless they have previously passed some examination accepted in place of the entrance examination. the examinations accepted by the council in the place of the entrance examination for the upper division are those which the university of cambridge requires from candidates for the teachers' examination.
for further particulars respecting scholarships (of which there are several), &c., apply to the principal at the college.
the teachers' training syndicate of cambridge issue the following scheme:—
i. an examination in the theory, history, and practice of teaching will be held at cambridge, and at other places if so determined by the syndicate, in june, for persons who have completed the age of twenty before june 1st, and certificates will be awarded to those who have passed the examination satisfactorily.
18
ii. no candidate can be admitted to the examination unless he or she has either—(1.) graduated in some university of the united kingdom; or (2.) satisfied the examiners in parts i. and ii. of the previous examination; or (3.) obtained a certificate in one of the higher local examinations of the universities of oxford or cambridge; or (4.) obtained the certificates of the oxford and cambridge schools examination board in the subjects accepted by the university as equivalent to parts i. and ii. of the previous examination; or (5.) satisfied the examiners in one of the senior local examinations of the universities of oxford, cambridge, or durham, in english, and at least one language, ancient or modern, and in euclid and algebra; or (6.) passed the examination for matriculation at the university of london.
iii. the subjects for examination will be—
(1.) the theory of education.
(a.) the scientific basis of the art of education; characteristics of childhood and youth; order of development and laws of growth, and operation of mental faculties; natural order of the acquisition of knowledge; development of the will; formation of habits and of character; sympathy and its effects.
(b.) elements of the art of education; training of the senses, the memory, the imagination, and taste, the powers of judging and reasoning; training of the19 desires and of the will; discipline and authority; emulation, its use and abuse; rewards and punishments.
(2.) the general history of education in europe since the revival of learning. a general knowledge will be required of systems of education which have actually existed, of the work of eminent teachers, and of the theories of writers on education up to the present time.
(3.) the practice of education. this subject will consist of two parts:—
(a.) method; that is, the order and correlation of studies, oral teaching and exposition, the right use of text-books and note-books, the art of examining and questioning, and the best methods of teaching the various subjects which are included in the curriculum of an ordinary school.
(b.) school management. the structure, furniture, and fitting of school-rooms, books and apparatus, visible and tangible illustrations, classification, distribution of time, registration of attendance and progress, hygiene, with special reference to the material arrangements of the school, and the conditions of healthful study. one paper will be set on each of these subjects, 1, 2, 3. a fourth paper will be set containing a small number of questions of an advanced character on each of the three subjects.
20
a fee of ￡2 10s. shall be paid to the syndicate by each candidate.
iv. the syndicate will further award certificates of practical efficiency in teaching to candidates who have already obtained a certificate of theoretical efficiency and have been engaged in school-work for a year in some school or schools to be approved of by the syndicate. the basis for the certificate of practical efficiency will be:—
(1.) examination of the class taught by the candidate;
(2.) an inspection of the class while being taught;
(3.) questions put to the teacher in private after the inspection;
(4.) a report made by the head masters or mistresses;
(5.) the syndicate will also be ready to inspect, in the course of the summer, any college established for the training of teachers other than elementary, and to award certificates of theoretical knowledge to such candidates as may deserve them. they will also award certificates of practical efficiency if they are satisfied with the training in practical work received by the candidates.
i understand that the senate of the university of london have also at present under consideration a21 scheme for the examination of teachers. the home and colonial school society, gray's inn road, king's cross, london, also gives instruction in the art of teaching. their terms to resident students between the ages of 15 and 30 are from ￡45 to ￡50 per annum; to day students ￡15 per annum, ￡8 for six months. teachers are also trained and prepared for the cambridge teachers examination at the west-central collegiate school, 29, queen's square, bloomsbury, for a year; the fee is ￡5 5s., but in the case of any one who could be really useful in teaching in the school no charge would be made.
girton college, cambridge.—the course for the ordinary degree certificate occupies about three years, half of each year being spent in college. for honours the time allowed is somewhat longer. the academical year is divided into three terms, the charge for board, lodging, and instruction is ￡35 per term, paid in advance. this sum covers the whole of the college charges. candidates for admission are required to pass an entrance examination, unless they have previously passed one of the examinations approved by the college authorities, and to furnish a satisfactory certificate of character. for students intending to read for the ordinary degree certificate, october is the best time for entering. candidates for honours may22 with advantage enter in april, thus gaining an additional term. except in special cases students are not received under the age of eighteen.
entrance examinations are held in london in march and june; a fee of ￡1 is charged.
there are several scholarships attached to the college, of which full particulars can be obtained, together with forms of entry, and copies of the programme and of former entrance examinations, on application to the secretary, miss kensington, 22, gloucester place, hyde park, london, w. the committee wish it to be understood that although residence for three years is necessary for obtaining a certificate, students can be received for shorter periods.
arrangements are made for holding examinations of the students of the college, and certifying proficiency. a certificate called a degree certificate is conferred upon any student whose proficiency has been certified to the satisfaction of the college, according to the standard of any examinations qualifying for the b.a. degree of the university of cambridge, if such student has fulfilled, so far as in the judgment of the college was practicable, all the conditions imposed for the time being by the university on candidates for degrees.
a certificate called a college certificate will be conferred upon any student who shall have passed, to the satisfaction of the college, examinations similar in23 subjects and standard to those qualifying for the b.a. degree of the university of cambridge, the following deviations being permitted: the substitution of french and english, or german and english, for latin or for greek; the substitution of english, french, and german for both latin and greek; the omission, in case of objection, of the theological part of the examination.
newnham hall.—no student is admitted under the age of eighteen. students are required to give references satisfactory to the principal, and no student is permitted to come into residence without the approval of the principal.
the principal may require any student to withdraw who in her opinion is not profiting by the course of study at cambridge. the charges for board and lodging and tuition are 25 guineas a term, and 15s. a year is charged for the use of the gymnasium. unless under special circumstances, students who intend to pass the cambridge higher local examination will be required to pass in english history, english literature, and arithmetic, before coming into residence. those who have taken honours in the cambridge senior local examination will be exempt from this rule.
the academic year, from october to june, is24 divided into three terms, corresponding to the terms of the cambridge university.
the public lectures of thirty of the university professors are now open to women, and the permission to attend the lectures of the professors of natural science include the privilege of gaining access to some of the natural science museums and laboratories.
ladies can be received as out-students of the college; they must either be women living with their parents at cambridge, or bona fide students over thirty years of age, or otherwise in exceptional circumstances. the tuition fee for out-students is 6 guineas a term.
students of limited means, especially those preparing for the profession of teaching, may avail themselves of the help granted from a loan fund towards the payment of their fees for lectures and the purchase of books.
those who need this assistance should apply to mrs. bateson, secretary of the association for promoting the higher education of women, st. john's lodge, cambridge. they must give some testimony respecting their intellectual qualifications.
a certain number of exhibitions of 5 guineas a term are awarded by the principal to students needing assistance, regard being had to intellectual qualifications, and a written statement of circumstances being required. these exhibitions are tenable with25 scholarships, of which there are a considerable number. the principal's name and address is miss a. j. clough, newnham hall, cambridge.
the students from girton and newnham who have wished to become governesses have hitherto had no difficulty whatever in obtaining engagements with good salaries.
lady margaret hall, oxford.—the object of the founders of this hall has been to procure for those desirous of availing themselves of the association for promoting the higher education of women in oxford the protection and training of an academical house on the principles of the church of england, but with provision for the liberty of members of other religious bodies.
the charges of the hall will at first amount to ￡25 per term, or ￡75 per annum, for each student, exclusive of expenses strictly personal. there are no entrance fees, but the expenses of the term will be paid in advance. the committee hope that as the hall grows they may be able to reduce this charge. sisters, or other ladies willing to share the same room, will be allowed a reduction of charge.
provision will be made in certain cases, by exhibitions or otherwise, for students whose resources are insufficient for the expenses of the course.
26
the terms will correspond generally with those of the university. the fees for instruction will be paid to the general association, and are not included in the charges of the hall. they will probably be about ￡15 per annum. each student will have a room to herself, fitted up to serve as sitting-room and bed-room. there will also be a common sitting-room, and meals will be in common in the dining-room. names for entrance must be sent to the lady principal, miss wordsworth, riseholme, lincoln.
students are required to give references satisfactory to the lady principal. in the case of those who have been in any other place of education, a letter of recommendation from its authorities will be required. those applying for admission must satisfy the lady principal as to their character and attainments.
students will not be allowed to reside for less than an academical year without special leave.
somerville hall, oxford.—an association having been formed in oxford for promoting the higher education of women, this hall is established for the reception of students coming from a distance to attend the lectures of the association. care will be taken in the conduct of it that members of different religious denominations are placed on the same footing. the life of the students will be modelled on that of an27 english family. no student will be admitted under the age of seventeen.
the ordinary charges for board and lodging will be 20 guineas per term, paid in advance, or 60 guineas for the whole year of three terms; the terms corresponding generally to those of university residence. the fees for instruction will probably be about 15 guineas a year.
particulars concerning exhibitions and scholarships may be learnt on application to the principal, miss m. shaw lefevre, whose london address is 41, seymour street, w., or to either of the secretaries—the hon. mrs. harcourt, cowley grange, oxford; or mrs. j. h. ward, 5, bradmore road, oxford.
kindergarten teachers.
the demand for trained kindergarten teachers is at present considerably in excess of the supply; the average salary is ￡80 a year. these are the rules of examination published by the froebel society for the promotion of the kindergarten system:—
examinations of students of the kindergarten system are held in london, conducted by examiners appointed by the committee of the froebel society. those students who satisfy the examiners will receive first or second class certificates of their qualification to28 become kindergarten teachers. no candidate will be admitted to examination under the age of eighteen.
the whole examination need not be passed in one year. a candidate may present herself for any number of the groups, or for all; and when all have been passed the candidate will receive a first or second class certificate. all candidates will be expected to produce a certificate of having passed some recognised public examination in english subjects, as—oxford or cambridge senior local, higher local; society of arts; first and second class, college of preceptors; government elementary teachers; &c. in special cases the production of a certificate may be excused, provided the committee are satisfied that a candidate has received a good general education. this will not apply to the younger candidates. the fee for the whole examination will be ￡1; for each group, if taken separately, 3s. the fees will be returned if through unavoidable circumstances the candidate cannot present herself for examination. candidates will be expected to produce evidence that they have not had less than six months' practice in class teaching of young children, and to satisfy the examiners of their ability to organise a kindergarten. names of candidates must be sent to mrs. e. berry, hon. secretary to the froebel society, 27, upper bedford place.
29
kindergarten training college, 31, tavistock place.—the college is founded to provide a central place of training for kindergarten teachers who intend to qualify for the froebel society's certificates. the college is open to all students above seventeen years of age, who are otherwise qualified to enter for the froebel society's examination. the course of instruction for regular students includes all the subjects laid down from time to time in the syllabus of the froebel society's examination, and is divided into a first and second year's course.
students must at the end of their first year take such portions of the froebel society's examinations as shall hereafter be indicated by the council. at the close of the second year students will be expected to pass the examination for the full certificate.
all regular students are required to attend the lectures and practical work of the college throughout their first year of study.
during the second year, attendance at the college in the morning is not obligatory for students who have qualified as assistant teachers, provided that the principal be satisfied that they have practice in teaching under the direction of some persons approved by the council of the college.
therefore, all lectures and lessons connected30 with the second year's course, other than lessons in the kindergarten, are given in the afternoon or evening.
afternoon or evening lessons and lectures are open to students not being regular students of the college, on certain conditions hereafter to be specified, and at a special charge per course. a kindergarten is attached to the college.
the college year is divided into three terms, each of about thirteen weeks. the hours of attendance are from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.; and on saturdays from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
fees ￡20 per year, or ￡7 per term, payable in advance. no residence is provided for students, but the council are prepared to recommend homes in the neighbourhood of the college.
there is also a kindergarten college and practising school at 21, stockwell road, london, belonging to the british and foreign school society. the course of instruction extends over two years, and the fees are ￡10 10s. a year, with some trifling extras. secretary, mr. alfred bourne, b.a. the home and colonial school society, gray's inn road, london, also has a kindergarten class for private governesses, school-mistresses, and pupil teachers. they hold examinations and grant certificates to those who prove their efficiency.
31
education by correspondence.—for the special benefit of ladies living in the country who may wish to prepare for the public examinations, arrangements have been made by several of the lecturers at cambridge for giving instruction by correspondence in some of the subjects of study selected by the university of cambridge for the examination of women. information on this point will be given by mrs. peile, trumpington, cambridge. correspondence classes have also been organised by miss shaw, poyle orchard, burnham, maidenhead, to whom application for admission must be made. the classes are conducted by ladies, who are authorised to receive as pupils those whom the cambridge lecturers are unable to accept. should they find that the number of these fall short of the number they are able to instruct, they will receive others, whether in direct preparation for the examination or not.
the instruction is given by means of:—
i. papers of questions set from time to time, and the answers looked over and returned with comments.
ii. solutions of difficulties and general directions as to books.
iii. short essays or résumés written by the pupils, and sent for correction to the teachers; or, in the language-classes, passages set for translation.
32
the papers will, if possible, be returned to the students not later than a week from their reception, and another set of questions sent at the same time. the fee is ￡3 3s. the course for each subject, paid in advance. the course extends over the three cambridge terms—i.e., from october 14th to the end of may.
for an account of other educational advantages open to women i refer my readers to the "list of colleges, schools, lectures, &c.," published by the women's education union; and the "educational year book," published by cassell & company, limited.
a great boon to ladies anxious to qualify themselves for governesses, and who have not the necessary means, is the teachers' education loan society, which advances school fees upon certain conditions to persons over sixteen desirous of improving their education for purposes of self-maintenance as teachers. apply for regulations by letter to the hon. secretary, miss ewart, 3, morpeth terrace, victoria street, london, s.w., before february, may, and november in each year, for the three terms of easter, michaelmas, and lent following.
salaries of mistresses.
the rugby council for promoting the education of women has instituted a calendar, giving the33 names and addresses of ladies who have passed the university examinations, and who desire educational work of any kind; it also contains full particulars respecting all the university examinations. many ladies whose names are entered in this calendar have succeeded in obtaining good situations through it, with salaries varying from ￡50 to ￡150 a year. a fee of 2s. 6d. is charged, in addition to an entrance fee of 2s. 6d. to ladies on each situation obtained through the calendar; its price is 1s. communications may be addressed to mrs. kitchener, school house, newcastle, staffordshire.
miss buss, of the north london collegiate school, has published a list of girls' schools, with special regard to salaries of head mistresses (as recommended by the endowed schools commission), which i quote to show what good incomes are attainable in the profession of teaching. applications for engagements as assistant mistresses should in all cases be made first to the head mistress of the school.
head mistresses' emoluments.
name of school. fixed salary. capitation fee. minimum maximum
ambleside, westmoreland ￡75 ￡1 to ￡3 ￡135 ￡255
bedford, town school 100 10s. to ￡3 200 700
bedford, high school not fixed not fixed
bow 75 15s. to 225
bradford, york 120
bristol, red maids not fixed not fixed 34
bristol, whitson's (two schools) ￡50 not fixed
bristol, colston's school 50 15s. to ￡1 10s. 200 350
brentwood, essex 50 ￡1 to ￡2 150 250
burlington, westminster 70 10s. to ￡1 10s.
burton-on-trent 50 15s. to 163
cambridge, cambridge not fixed not fixed
camden school, london 75 15s. to ￡1 375 475
clerkenwell (brewers' company), london 100 ￡1 to 400
dolgelly, wales 70 10s. to ￡1 10s. 110 190
exeter, maynard's girls' schools 100 ￡3 to ￡6 400 700
exeter, episcopal middle school 50 not fixed, not less than one-third tuition fees
great crosby, lancaster 120 ￡2 to ￡4 320 520
greycoat, westminster 80 10s. to ￡1 10s. 230 530
greys thurrock, essex 50 ￡1 to 125
hatcham, surrey 100 ￡1 to ￡2 300 500
hoxton 75 10s. to ￡1 10s. 225 525
ilminster high school, somerset 100 ￡3 to 400
ilminster town school 50 ￡1 to 130
keighley, yorkshire 80 ￡1 to ￡2
kingston, surrey 75 15s. to 187 10s.
loughborough, burton upper school 100 ￡1 10s. to ￡3 250 400
march, cambridgeshire 75 ￡1 to 135
newcastle-under-lyme 75 ￡1 to 175
newport 60 ￡1 to 120
north london collegiate school 100 ￡2 to ￡3 900 1300
reading, kendrick schools not fixed not fixed
roan schools, greenwich 100 ￡1 to ￡2 400 700
stamford, browne's middle school 100 ￡2 to ￡4 300 50035
st. clement danes, london ￡100 ￡1 to ￡3 250 550
st. helens, lancaster 100 ￡2 to ￡4
st. giles, cripplegate, london 100 10s. to ￡1 10s. 225 475
st. martin's in the fields, london 80 10s. to ￡1 10s. 155 305
st. paul's, london 200 ￡3 to ￡6 1100 2000
taunton, somerset 40 ￡1 to
thetford 75 ￡1 to ￡3 115 195
thornton near bradford, yorkshire 40 15s. to 77 10s.
totnes, devon 50 ￡1 10s. to 170
uffculme not fixed not fixed
wakefield, yorks. 100 ￡1 10s. to ￡3 250 400
wallingford, berkshire 75 15s. to 112 10s.
warwick, warwickshire 100 15s. to 160
west ham (sarah bonnell) essex 60 ￡1 to ￡2 260 460
westminster, london 100 ￡1 to ￡2 220 340
wyggeston, leicester 100 ￡1 to ￡3 300 700
the girls' public day school company, in connection with the women's education union, pay their teachers good salaries. the schools of the company at present in operation are the following:—
bath high school, 5, portland place, bath.
blackheath high school, wemyss road, blackheath, s.e.
brighton high school, the temple, montpelier road, brighton.
bromley high school, fern bank, elmfield road, bromley, kent.
clapham high school, the lawn, clapham common, s.w.
36clapham middle school, clarence house, clapham common.
croydon high school, wellesley road, croydon.
dulwich high school, thurlow park road, west dulwich, s.e.
gateshead high school, windmill hill, gateshead-on-tyne.
hackney high school, 273 and 275, mare street, hackney, e.
highbury and islington high school, 6 and 7, canonbury place, n.
ipswich high school, northgate street, ipswich.
kensington high school, 152 and 154, cromwell road, s.w.
liverpool high school, prince's park, liverpool
maida vale high school, warrington crescent, w.
newton abbot high school, dovercourt, forde park, newton abbot.
norwich high school, theatre street, norwich.
nottingham high school, arboretum street, nottingham.
notting hill and bayswater high school, norland square, notting hill, w.
oxford high school, st. giles's road east, oxford.
portsmouth high school, osborne road, southsea.
sheffield high school, surrey street, sheffield.
south hampstead high school, maresfield gardens, fitzjohn's avenue, n.w.
tunbridge wells high school, fair lawn, mount sion, tunbridge wells.
weymouth high school, 3, greenhill, weymouth.
wimbledon high school, wimbledon hill, wimbledon.
york high school, fishergate house, york.
ladies desirous of becoming head mistresses must send in their applications to the secretary of the company, 21, queen anne's gate, s.w. every application must be in writing, and be accompanied by original testimonials (which will be returned). candidates, whose age must be stated, should have had experience in school management, and must produce testimony to their power of organisation, and ability37 to maintain firm but kindly discipline, as well as to their attainments and capacity as teachers of classes.
subject to bye-laws, regulations of the council, and to an annual examination and inspection of the school by independent examiners, each head mistress will have the management of the studies and discipline of the school, and will be consulted in the selection and appointment of all assistant teachers, whose emoluments will be settled by the council.
the emoluments of the head mistress will consist in each case of a fixed stipend of ￡250 per annum, together with a capitation fee of ￡1 10s. for every pupil in the school above the number of 100 up to 200, and of ￡2 for every pupil above the number of 200 up to 300.
there will be no residences attached to the schools; the head mistresses will not be allowed to take boarders or instruct private pupils except with the express permission of the council, and the school year will be divided into three terms, each about thirteen weeks in length, and the engagement of each head mistress will be entered into subject to its being terminable either by the council or by her at the end of a term and after the expiration of one term's previous notice. it is particularly requested that candidates abstain from canvassing members of the council, either directly or indirectly.
38
ladies desirous of becoming teachers in the schools of the company, are requested to observe the following regulations:—
all appointments of assistant teachers are made by the council, usually on the recommendation of the committee of education.
candidates and their testimonials are in the first instance referred to the head mistress of the school concerned, who examines the testimonials and makes inquiry as to the qualifications when necessary at personal interviews. the head mistress then lays the several testimonials before the education committee, with a report upon them. the education committee make such further inquiries and hold such interviews with any of the candidates as they may deem fit, and then submit candidates for the approval of the council. the council pay second-class railway fare for those candidates with whom a personal interview is desired.
all appointments of assistant teachers are made on probation for the first two terms, that is to say are terminable by the head mistress at the end of the first or second term without reference to the council, and without more than a month's notice.
when the council have approved an appointment after the probationary period, an assistant teacher is required to sign an agreement with the council, and is removable by the council after notice of at least two39 months, expiring at the end of a school term. the same notice is required from an assistant teacher. at the end of the probationary period assistant teachers are placed on the permanent staff at a rate of salary depending upon their work and qualifications. these salaries begin at amounts varying from ￡70 to ￡135 per annum, and rise annually for four years by increments varying from ￡7 to ￡15. junior teachers and paid student teachers are not included in the above. board and residence are not provided by the council.
the qualifications required vary with each special case. a knowledge of english grammar and literature, arithmetic, and one or more languages besides english, together with some experience in teaching, are usual requisites. ability to assist in the instruction in drawing is also desirable. music is always taught by special teachers.
it is a great recommendation if candidates have passed in the higher oxford or cambridge examinations, the london university examinations, or other examinations of the like kind.
all applications should be made by letter, stating age, qualifications, and experience, and accompanied by copies of testimonials (not originals). these documents should be addressed to the head mistress of the particular school, at the school; or if not for any special school may be marked "application for assis40tant teachership," and directed to the secretary of the company, 112, brompton road, london, who will send them to any head mistress needing an assistant.
applications to teach special subjects, such as music, harmony, class-singing and pianoforte, drawing, higher latin, french, or german, mathematics, any branch of natural science, drill, &c., should be made in the same manner.
inquiries as to vacancies are best made of the various head mistresses early in the months of april, july, and december; they may also be addressed to the secretary of the company.
elementary schools.
teachers in the elementary schools receive good salaries, have short hours of work, and are comparatively in an independent position; but i have no doubt many ladies would find the class of children they would be required to teach a great trial to them, as the habits and ideas of children of the lower classes would, in all probability, prove a considerable shock to the sensibilities of ladies who came in contact with them for the first time. the elementary schools employ an immense number of teachers. in the schools under the school board alone 2,500 certificated female teachers are employed, besides a large number41 of pupil-teachers. the teachers under the school board all receive good salaries, but as the whole scheme of payment is now under revision, it is impossible to give exact figures. pupil-teachers begin at 4s. a week. there are seven weeks' holiday in the year; the hours of work are from 9 to 12, and 2 till 4.30. the head mistress is expected to give an hour's extra instruction to the pupil-teachers.
these are the regulations for admission of teachers to all public elementary schools—that is to say, all schools in receipt of a grant from the education department, including national, british, wesleyan, roman catholic, and board schools.
the recognised classes of teachers are: certificated teachers, pupil teachers, and assistant teachers.
teachers in order to obtain certificates must be examined, and must undergo probation by actual service in school.
the examination for certificates is open to:—(a.) students who have resided for at least one year in training colleges under inspection; or (b.) candidates who are upwards of twenty-one years of age. (1.) completed an engagement as pupil-teacher satisfactorily; or (2.) obtained a favourable report from an inspector; or (3.) served as assistants for at least six months in schools under certificated teachers.
42
candidates who at the time of the examination are not teachers of schools to which annual grants are or may be made, must be recommended by the authorities of their college, or by the managers of the school in which they last served.
candidates for certificates, after successfully passing their examination, must, as teachers continuously engaged in the same schools, obtain two favourable reports from an inspector, with an interval of one year between them; and if the first of these reports be not preceded by service of three months (at the least) since the examination a third report, at an interval of one year after the second report, is issued; if the second (or third) report is favourable a certificate is issued.
teachers under probation must satisfy the conditions which require that schools be kept by certificated teachers.
pupil-teachers must be not less than fourteen years (completed) at the date of their engagement.
they are required to pass an easy examination, and produce certificates of health and character.
at the close of their engagement pupil-teachers are perfectly free in the choice of employment. if they wish to continue in the work of education they may become assistants in elementary schools; or may be examined for admission into a training college;43 or may be provisionally certificated for immediate service in charge of small schools.
assistant teachers.—pupil-teachers who have completed their engagements with credit, and passed their examinations satisfactorily, and candidates not having been pupil-teachers who have passed with success the examination for entrance into a training college, may serve as assistants in schools, in place of pupil-teachers, without being required to be annually examined.
training colleges.
an examination for queen's scholarships is annually held at each college in summer, and at special local centres, commencing at 10 a.m. on the first wednesday after july 2nd.
the candidates are selected and admitted to the examination by the authorities of each college on their own responsibility, subject to no other conditions on the part of the education department than that the candidates:—
(a.) intend bona fide to adopt and follow the profession of a teacher in elementary schools.
(b.) if pupil-teachers have successfully completed their engagement, or will do so before the following examination for admission.
(c.) not having been pupil-teachers, will be more44 than eighteen years of age on january 1st next following the date of examination.
the successful candidates are arranged in three classes in order of merit.
a place in the third class qualifies for employment as an assistant teacher, but not for admission into a training college or for a provisional certificate.
the authorities of each college settle their own terms for admission.
candidates are required to pass a medical examination.
the following is a list of training colleges for mistresses. it must be stated that the entrance fee entitles the student to board, lodging, washing, and medical attendance for two years, except during the holidays:—
name of college. entrance fee.
bishop's stortford ￡5.
brighton ￡8.
bristol ￡8.
cheltenham ￡10, first class; ￡12, second.
chichester (bishop otter's) ￡20 per annum, quarterly, in advance.
darlington (british) ￡15 15s.
derby ￡5 or ￡10.
durham ￡10.
gray's inn rd. (home & colonial) ￡10.
homerton (evangelical) ￡15 15s.
lincoln none at present.
liverpool (r. c.) ￡5.45
norwich ￡3, first class; ￡5, second.
oxford ￡10 or ￡20.
ripon ￡10.
salisbury ￡5, first class; ￡7, second.
southlands, battersea (wesleyan) ￡8.
stockwell (british) ￡10 10s.
tottenham ￡10.
truro ￡5.
wandsworth (r. c.) ￡2 10s.
warrington ￡6.
whitelands ￡12 or ￡15.
all these colleges, with the exceptions specified, are conducted on church of england principles.
governesses in private families.
after having said so much about the necessity of training, examinations, &c., i think it only fair to make some mention of governesses in private families for the younger children, under fourteen. many parents are wise enough to prefer for these posts a thoroughly conscientious lady, even if she is not accomplished, to one who has any number of certificates, unless she combines with them a due sense of the importance of her task.
ladies whose circumstances induce them to seek a situation in some one else's house should, above all things, avoid undue sensitiveness, and the habit of attributing unkind motives (which probably never exist) to every little incident which may occur. of46 course a governess's life is not likely to be the happiest one could imagine, but i think it is usually her own fault if it is not a contented and useful one, and perhaps this is as much as it is wise for any of us to expect.
the best place for governesses of this class to apply to for situations is the governesses' benevolent institution, 47, harley street, where no fee is charged. any governess on procuring and leaving two satisfactory letters from respectable parties, written in the first person, signed, sealed, and addressed to the board, may enter her name, and such other particulars as she may wish to state, in the books of registration, kept for that purpose. there is also a book to register applications for governesses. the board of management abstain from all interference between the parties, and the entries must be made by parties themselves, ladies in the country acting by a friend. no letter or testimonial can under any circumstances be returned nor taken from the office. it is necessary that all letters be written in the first person. office hours from 12 to 5.
