Annual Report of the Commissioners ...

" I.-1. In commencing our present Report, it is our gratifying duty to express our acknowledgments for the Charter of Incorporation, which her Majesty has been graciously pleased, in the course of last year, to grant us.

"We have already availed ourselves of it, so as to effect a very important improvement in the plan originally adopted, which was for having National School-houses built by aid from the public, so conveyed to trustees, as to be secured for the purposes of National Education, according to the existing National System.

"3. The course hitherto has been to have the legal title vested in private individuals on the proper trusts, but this has led to much inconvenience, and indeed positive mischief; for, besides difficulties, through the decease of Trustees, change of residence, and unwillingness or incapacity to act, there has been a very general neglect as to the keeping of School-houses in repair, and the only remedy for such neglect would be proceedings against the Trustees, a course most desirable to be avoided.

"4. Therefore, being now enabled to take conveyances of property to ourselves, in our corporate capacity, we have, according to the communication which we have already had the honor of making to your Excellency upon the subject, resolved, that, in every case in which we make a grant for building a National School-house, we shall take upon ourselves the trust for the public and the charge of keeping the premises in repair; leaving, however, the Local Managers, who in general are not the Trustees, just the same right as to the appointment and removal of teachers, and the general conduct of the School, as they at present possess under our control.

"5. With respect to the School-houses heretofore built by aid from us, and which are already vested in Trustees in the way we have mentioned, we have resolved, according to the permission which your Excellency has granted to us, to accept (when such is the wish of the Patrons) transfers of such Schools to us, and to undertake the repairs in this case also."

With reference to the last paragraph we have to state, that a form of conveyance has been prepared, of which we also forward a copy, for transferring to the Commissioners, in their corporate character, where the parties locally interested shall so desire, school buildings and premises heretofore vested in Trustees. Before, however, any such transfer can be effected, the original Grantor, or his Representative, as also the Trustees, should notify, in writing, to the Commissioners their assent to the assignment.

As some misapprehension appears to exist upon this subject, the Commissioners have also directed us to transmit to you copies of the old form of lease, as well as of the conveyance from the Trustees to the Commissioners. By a comparison of these instruments with the new lease, you will observe that the principles on which the National Schools are conducted, remain unaltered; that the appoint. ment and removal of the teachers, and the general management of the Schools are expressly secured to the local Patrons; that no power is sought by the Commissioners, which they have not always had the means of exercising by resorting to a court of equity; and that the only change made, or contemplated, is, the substitution of a permanent and responsible public body for private Trustees, so as more effectually to secure the due application of local contributions, and of the public grant, to the purposes for which they were intended, and more fully to provide for the repairs of the National School-houses, hitherto so much neglected by the Trustees.

MAURICE CROSS,
JAMES KELLY,

88. We have inserted in the Appendix copies of the old and new forms of Lease and the Deed of Assignment. Since this Circular was issued, we have received and accepted a number of applications to assign to us, in our Corporate capacity, schools heretofore vested in Trustees. We shall lose no time in putting these schools, if required, into a proper state of repair, agreeably to the condition upon which they have been transferred.

XX.-89. Our Secretaries having informed us that they had been frequently consulted, both personally and by letter, as to the true meaning of the following portion of section 2, paragraph 3, of the Rules of the Board with reference to religious instruction:--"That due regard be had to parental right and authority; that, accordingly, no child be compelled to receive, or be present at, any religious instruction to which his parents or guardians object;" and that they deemed it desirable that we should supply them with an authoritative answer to such questions, we directed them, by a Minute bearing date 18th November, 1847, to give the following explanation in reply to all such inquiries in future :

First-That the true interpretation of the words in question clearly is, that no child be compelled to receive, or to be present at any religious instruction to which his parents or guardians object; and that this rule (in conjunction with the notification in the school-room of the arrangement for giving religious instruction as required by rule 9, section 2) has hitherto been found amply sufficient for the full enforcement of parental authority.

Secondly-That though all that is required by this rule (section 2, paragraph 3) is, that the Patron should engage not to compel any child to be present at such religious instruction; yet, should the Patron use any means, either directly or indirectly, to induce any child to attend such religious instruction contrary to the desire of its parents or guardians, the Commissioners would consider such conduct inconsistent with the whole spirit of their system.

That it was with a view to guard against the possibility of suc a case arising that the Commissioners gave the following in portant explanation of their sentiments in their Eleventh Repor for the year 1844, dated the 24th day of April, 1845 :

"It would be found impossible to lay down in detail any set rules so accommodated to all the varying circumstances of eve locality, and so guarded against all possible mistakes and misr presentations, as to be secure from being violated in spirit, withou any tangible infringement of the letter of them. For exampl under our present rules, the Patron of a National School may giv religious instruction during even the fixed school hours. A Patro: Protestant or Roman Catholic, might possibly, availing himself the letter of this rule, make so unjust a use of this privilege as: drive from the school all children of a persuasion different fro: his own, or induce them, if they remained, to share in the religiou instruction to which they and their parents were conscientious opposed. In such a case we should immediately interpose, ar cause the Patron to abandon a course so inconsistent with th whole spirit of our system; or in case of his refusal, we shoul strike the school off our roll."

XXI.-90. We have for some time had it in contempla tion to establish in Dublin subsidiary Model Schools, simila in their general character to those in Marlborough-street, bi not on so large a scale. We expect, within a short period, t make a commencement in carrying this desirable obje into effect.

XXII.-91. In conformity with our usual practice, th financial account of the year's receipts and expenditure i made up to the 31st of March of this year, and the statistic of schools to the 31st of December, 1847.

92. We submit this as our Report for the last year to you Excellency, and in testimony thereof have caused our Co porate seal to be hereunto affixed, this Sixteenth day ( June, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-eight.

(Signed,)

MAURICE CROSS,)
JAMES KELLY.

Secretaries.

SEAL.

Education Office, Marlborough-street.

I.--An Account of the RECEIPTS and DISBURSEMENTS of the COMMISSIONERS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION, from the 1st April, 1847, to 31st March, 1848.

THE CHARGE.

s. d.

THE DISCHARGE.

s. d.

Balance in favour of the Public on the 1st April, 1847,

6,245 8 10

NORMAL ESTABLISHMENT:

Treasury Issues,

90,000 0 0

Salaries and Wages,

Cash received for Books and Requisites sold to National Schools,

General Expenditure,

361 00 23 9 10

to Schools for the Poor, not National, to the Colonies, and to the

MALE TRAINING DEPARTMENT, GLASNEVIN.

100

ন

Public through the Agents of the Board,

8,583 14 7

Salaries and Wages,

120

Do.

from Pupils attending the Model Schools,

294 6 6

Maintenance and Travelling,

1,218 15

Do.

from J. Donaghy:

for farm produce, sold Training

to the

General Expenditure,

312 16

Establishments from Nov., 1847, to March, 1848,

63 8 10

MALE TRAINING DEPARTMENT, GREAT GEORGE'S-STREET:

119 7

Do.

from other sources,

70 19 6

Salaries and Wages,

99,012 9 5

Maintenance and Travelling,

General Expenditure,

DO. TEMPORARY DO., 27, MARLBOROUGH-STREET,

307 16 0

8950

FEMALE TRAINING DEPARTMENT:

GLASNEVIN NATIONAL SCHOOL:-Completion of Building, Fitting-up,

Salaries and Wages,

Maintenance and Travelling,

General Expenditure,

MODEL SCHOOL DEPARTMENT,

EVENING SCHOOL, MARLBOROUGH-STREET,

MODEL FARM DEPARTMENT, including the Board and Lodging of
Agricultural Pupils and Teachers, Rent, Permanent Improve-

ments, Salaries, Wages, &c.

Purchase of Farm Stock and Agricultural Implements from Mr.

Skilling in November,

INSPECTION,

BOOK DEPARTMENT:

Her Majesty's Stationery Office, for one year ended 31st March, 1847, for Paper, Printing, Binding of National School Books, including Slates, Pencils, and other School Requisites

14,064 8 5

For Books and Requisites purchased from Publishers, and sold to the National Schools at reduced prices, Salaries, &c.

3,339 4 9

OFFICIAL ESTABLISHMENT IN MARLBOROUGH-STREET

REPAIRS AND WORKS AT MARLBOROUGH-STREET, including Purchase
of Ground in Rere, for New Male Training Establishment,

Building and Fitting-up New Book Stores,
Sundry Repairs and Alterations in various Department,

1,100 00

1,500 0 0

1,412 4 2

4,012 4 2

105,257 18 3

BALANCE in favour of the Public on 31st March, 1848,