REFLECTIONS UPON THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN IN CHARITY SCHOOLS, &c.

Summary

Having formed a plan for a course of instruction peculiarly adapted to the children of the poor, and prepared several articles of it for publication, I thought it incumbent upon me to explain my motives for an undertaking, which to some may appear superfluous, and to others assuming, since the world already abounds with elementary books for Charity Schools, many of which were written by authors of the most eminent abilities, and highest reputation.

But first I shall beg leave to submit to the consideration of the benevolent a few hints which experience and observation have suggested to my mind, concerning those institutions which afford gratuitous instruction to the children of the poor, more particularly such as are distinguished from Sunday Schools and Schools of Industry, by the name of Charity Schools.

The important question, Whether it is consistent with sound policy to bestow education upon children in the lowest classes of life, has employed the pens of some of our best writers in the last and present centuries; and we may judge from the wonderful increase of schools supported by charitable contributions, that it is at length generally decided in the affirmative.

The objection against giving learning to the poor, lest it raise them above their situation, is completely obviated by making such learning as general as possible; for then it ceases to give pre-eminence, or to be a distinction, and must eventually qualify all better to fill their respective stations in society: and nothing could be thought of so well calculated to diffuse a moderate and useful share of learning among the lower orders of people, as these schools.