LETTER. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. C., October 30, 1878. SIR: It is well known that when the education act of 1870 was adopted by the British Parliament many entertained serious fears with regard to its execution in London. England up to that date, in the great metropolis as elsewhere, had relied upon the schools of the church for the sufficient education of the young or on endowed schools and other voluntary educational agencies; these being supplemented or aided by grants from the public purse. Charities in the metropolis were so numerous that the mere catalogue of them alone made a book of two hundred pages; a great many of these charities were devoted to the care or education of the young. Notwithstanding these numerous and very creditable endeavors, a great increase of those evils specially traceable to the neglect of education was remarked. The results of the introduction and administration of the law above mentioned are now manifest for the examination of scholars and statesmen. They may be studied in detail in the voluminous reports of the proceedings of the London school board, the sixth volume of which fills 2,200 imperial octavo pages. But Sir Charles Reed, chairman of the London board, recently summarized the facts noted in this great educational experiment in the world's largest city so briefly and in language so simple as to make his statement of peculiar value to the numerous members of municipal school boards in this country. The lessons his words contain are specially pertinent at this time, when efforts are being made in various places to lower our educational methods and plans to the condition in which the London school board found those of that city when it undertook its great responsibilities. I therefore submit this address, with a few explanatory notes, for publication. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN LONDON. The last seven years have witnessed a wonderful change in the educational affairs of Great Britain, especially of London and the other large cities. During this time the great metropolis has placed public education on a firm and substantial foundation. Of all the school boards created under the education act of 1870, that of London had the heaviest task imposed upon it, and it is one of those which have accomplished the most. Nothing can be clearer or more forcible than the plain statement of facts and figures presented in the interesting annual address of Sir Charles Reed, the indefatigable president of the London school board. There are already 278 board schools in London, with accommodation for 192,000 children, and when the present plans are completed there will be accommodation in board schools for 240,000 children. It is due to the energetic efforts of the school board that London is able to report in the year 1878 an average daily attendance in all efficient elementary schools of 339,344 pupils, against 174,301 in 1871, a growth of 94.6 per cent. This favorable result in so short a period sug gests inquiry into the organization of the school board, its powers, and its plan of operation. The basis of the present system is the elementary education act of 1870, which says that "there shall be provided for every school district a sufficient amount of accommodation in public elementary schools available for all the children resident in such district for whose elementary education efficient and suitable provision is not otherwise made." The new schools are placed in each district under school boards invested with great powers, among others that of compelling all parents to give their children between the ages of 5 and 13 the advantages of an elementary education. In pursuance of this act the first school board for London was elected November 29, 1870. It contained many eminent members, among them Professor Huxley. The number of school districts is 10, which are represented in the board by 49 members1 elected every three years by ballot as required by law. The first chairman of the board was elected December 15, 1870. On December 19 of the same year, the education department directed the board to procure returns of all the elementary schools within the district of the metropolis. These returns were forwarded to the department within four months. On April 20, 1871, the board received instructions to report on the number of children within the limits of its jurisdiction for whom elementary education should be 1 A few of the members are women. provided. As the general census of the United Kingdom had just been taken, it was easy to determine the absolute number of children between the ages of 3 and 13. But more difficult problem was presented as soon as it became necessary to ascertain the number of children contemplated in the act. A staff of enumerators and a superintendent were appointed in each of the ten divisions of the metropolis. As a general rule the enumerators made their inquiries verbally as they called from house to house. The work of tabulation was at once proceeded with. The board subdivided the different school divisions into compact blocks. Each of the divisional committees was then requested to subdivide its division in accordance with a regular plan, and the result of this is shown in the much admired maps published by the board. The streets. and alleys within a given subdivision were now arranged in due order, and the exact number of families noted. The children were then divided into those who attend and those who should attend, and the causes of absence were carefully ascertained. The following is the result of this gigantic work: The population of London April 2, 1871, according to the school board enumeration, was 3,265,005. The number of children between 3 and 13 was 681,101, of whom 97,307 were educated at home or in schools, and 9,101 were inmates of various institutions. The number of children requiring elementary schools was 574,693, of whom 398,679 were attending and 176,014 for various causes were not attending school. The first duty of the board was now to provide suitable school accommodation for the vast number of children outside of school. How successfully this has been done will be seen in the statement of Sir Charles Reed, herewith presented. The internal organization of the board schools has improved steadily and systematically from year to year. The board has availed itself of the power given it in section 74 of the education act, which says that any school board may require "the parents of children of such age, not less than five years nor more than thirteen years, as may be fixed by the by-laws, to cause such children (unless there is some reasonable excuse) to attend school," and may "impose penalties for the breach of any by-laws." The text of the by-laws relating to compulsory attendance in London board schools is as follows: § 2. The parent of every child of not less than five years nor more than thirteen years of age is required to cause such child to attend school, unless there be some reasonable excuse for non-attendance. 3. Except as hereinafter provided, the time such child is required to attend school is the whole time for which the school selected shall be opened for the instruction of children, not being less than twenty-five hours a week. § 7. Every parent who shall not observe or shall neglect or violate these by-laws shall upon conviction be liable to a penalty not exceeding 58., including costs, for each offence. According to the reports, the above provisions in regard to compulsion are rigorously enforced. Sir Charles Reed says: "Without this |