dence socially and commercially. Although no Government grant has up to the present been allowed for Spanish, still teachers are obliged to make use of this language as a medium for the thorough teaching of English, and hence it is that the teacher in Gibraltar -professionally engaged as such-in order to qualify himself or herself for that important office, has to acquire a practical knowledge of Spanish.

II. WESLEYAN SCHOOLS.

The year 1832 witnessed the arrival of the Wesleyans in Gibraltar, and they immediately opened a charitable and undenominational school in connection with their mission. This school, beginning with very few pupils of all creeds, for a short time attracted many poor children, but finally want of accommodation and the withdrawal of the children of the Hebrew and Roman Catholic denominations compelled a transfer of those who remained to the Public School, which had been established about the same period. This arrangement, however, was only temporary, inasmuch as the regulations laid down by the managers respecting the freedom conceded to the children of the various religious denominations did not coincide with the views of the Wesleyan Conference, and they soon, i.e., in 1833, opened schools of their own. These schools, which appear to have been carried on under the direction and management of a committee under the presidency of Dr. Rule, in premises which seem to have been originally granted to the Wesleyan Conference in or about the year 1829, were attended with very great success, and attracted a large number of pupils, so much so, that in 1842, when Dr. Rule left Gibraltar, there were established four day and two night schools belonging to the Wesleyan Conference, and these continued working for many years under the supervision of Dr. Hull (successor to Dr. Rule) with varying success, and are referred to in some of the Educational Reports as being model schools. For reasons which are not now completely traceable, but mainly owing to the development of other educational institutions, particularly the splendid schools which at that date had been erected by the Roman Catholics, and which, as was only natural, drew away a large number of Roman Catholic children, the Wesleyan schools gradually fell off, and in the year 1851 the school buildings passed into the hands of the then Roman Catholic Vicar-Apostolic. The school houses in the North District continued admirably to fulfil their mission up to the year 1855, between which date and 1860 the attendance again fell off, and in 1862 the scholars of both sexes were grouped under one roof. In 1878 new and commodious school premises were opened near the Chapel and Manse in Prince Edward's Road (North District), which continued until the year 1895, when the decline in the number of scholars, for the reasons above stated, coupled with the wish to convert the school building into a "Soldiers and Sailors' Home," in connection with the chaplaincy

work of the mission, led to the schools being finally closed. During the period 1854-1873 the Government grant in aid had varied from £14 to £35, and from 1874 to 1890 from £87 to £166. These schools may be truly said to have been the pioneers of education in Gibraltar, and the Conference has good reason to rejoice in the abundant results which have followed its early and very humble efforts-efforts which are most graphically described in "Recollections of My Life," by William Rule, D.D.

III. THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

1832.

In the year 1832 a Public school was opened in the Colony. Establish This was a mixed school, open to all denominations and to children ment in of both sexes. It was approved by the local government, and maintained by the voluntary contributions of all classes, irrespective of creed. The managing body was composed of representatives of the different religious denominations, exclusive of the Hebrews, but no provision was made for the teaching of religion in any form. In this form the school continued with varying success until 1871, when, owing to the necessity for repairs to the premises, the boys' department was closed for three years, while the girls' school was continued in a small house rented for the purpose. The repairs having been effected, the whole school was reorganised in 1874, and the boys' department was reopened and continued until 1897, when it was again closed for want of funds, the girls' department being still continued. The teachers in this Teachers. school are now appointed by the Committee of Management, but there does not appear to be any special arrangement for the professional instruction of the teachers, nor is there any system of pupil or apprentice teachers. Those who are instructors in the school are a head mistress at a salary of $25 (£5) per month, two assistant teachers at $8 (£1 12s.) each monthly, another assistant at $4 (16s.), and three monitresses without salary. There are no arrangements at all for pensions. The religious Religious instruction is in the hands and under the entire control of the Instruction. Roman Catholic and Church of England clergy, who visit the school weekly with unvarying regularity to afford instruction in their respective creeds. As this school is of an elementary character only, there is no provision for education in any of the higher branches, nor for training or instruction in handicrafts, &c., nor for drill and physical exercises.

In the winter of 1898 an evening school for boys was opened, Evening and continued with good results, but was discontinued in the School. following winter for want of attendance.

The average attendance at the Public school during the year Average ending 31st March, 1901, was 132, which has since increased, and Attendance. the quarters following in the current year have shown an atten

dance of 141.

This school is under Government supervision.

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ment of two subsidised Schools.

IV. CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL.

It appears from a reference to old records that during the period when Gibraltar was a penal settlement, and there were in the South District many families of persons attached to the Convict Establishment who belonged to the Church of England, and who had come from home to occupy posts in that establishment, and many other families residing in the same part of the Colony, the Colonial Government granted the use of a building, not far from the New Mole, where the establishment referred to was erected, for the purpose of opening a Church of England school. The school attracted many pupils, and was continued with much success until about the year 1875, when by reason of the Convict Establishment being broken up, and the families connected therewith leaving Gibraltar, the school attendance fell off, and in the year 1888 it was found so deplorably unsatisfactory that a suggestion was made to close it. In consideration, however, of the good work that had been done in former years, as well as of the misfortune that such closure must entail to the cause of education, efforts were made for its continuance, and they appeared for a brief period to promise success, but, unfortunately, without permanent results. This failure was hastened by the necessity of making considerable repairs to the school premises, estimated at a sum of about £200. A public meeting of those interested in the institution was held to determine what measures should be adopted, with a result unfavourable to its continuation, and therefore the school was finally closed on the 31st January, 1889. The few English children were placed in the military schools, which had at that time a sufficiency of

room.

Now that numbers of workmen and their families have come out from England in connection with the Admiralty dockworks, and that there is no public school for boys other than the Roman Catholic schools, it may be suggested to the Committee of the Public School in Flat Bastion Road to reorganise the boys' depart ment, which, as stated, was closed in 1897.

V. ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

In or about the year 1840 a movement was set on foot by the principal inhabitants of Gibraltar with a view to obtain aid from the Government for an organized system of education, differing from that pursued by the Wesleyan schools and Public school. A letter was addressed to the then Vicar-Apostolic of Gibraltar, dealing forcibly with the pressing need for a system of education based on the principles of the parental rights of the community to have their children educated in their own religion.

In response to the application which was put forward by the then Vicar-Apostolic (Dr. Hughes) in consequence of this letter, the Government promised a sum equal to a third of that realised by voluntary contributions, and two subsidised schools were opened

in the town-the principal one at that time being in Castle Ramp, which gave accommodation to more than 300 boys. This school was conducted by two qualified teachers who were brought from the home country.

Amongst the educational institutions founded about this time, Loretto was the boarding and day school for young ladies in Europa Main Convert. Road, now called "Loretto Convent." This was placed under the management of the community of Sisters of Loretto, consisting of members from the present house in Dublin. This school receiving very earnest support and patronage from the inhabitants, a second institution of the same order, and working on similar lines, was established in the centre of the town district, called Green Market. The work of education so begun by the Roman Catholics in St. Bernard 1840, under the Vicar-Apostolic, Dr. Hughes, was followed up by College. his successor, Dr. J. B. Scandella, in 1856, and was completed by the foundation of a college for the higher education of young men. This establishment was first opened in New Mole Parade, South, but was afterwards transferred to a more suitable locality in Europa Main Road, in the same district, where an extensive building was erected and named St. Bernard's College. This college, the first of its class for higher education in Gibraltar, attracted a great number of students, and is mentioned with much eulogy by the Spanish historian above mentioned, Don F. M. Montero; it continued in operation until the year 1878, when, owing to a variety of causes, it was closed in December of that year.

Brothers.

A few years before the closing of St. Bernard's College, the then The Christi Vicar-Apostolic, Dr. Scandella, made an application, in which he obtained the support of the members of the Roman Catholic Schools Committee and principal inhabitants of that religion, for a community of Christian Brothers. This request, preferred to the Superior General of the Order, was acceded to, and in January, 1878, four brothers arrived in Gibraltar, and at once took charge of the school at Castle Ramp, North, and, later on, of St. Joseph's, South District. The results of the system of teaching thus introduced by the Christian Brothers soon began to be known in the city, and a desire was generally expressed to secure additional teachers from the same Order for the children. In furtherance of this desire, a deputation of citizens waited on the Vicar-Apostolic, who readily endorsed their views regarding a high-class school, in lieu of St. Bernard's College, and, this new application being granted by the Superior General of the Christian Brothers, additional brethren were sent out, which enabled the then local superior, the late Rev. W. G. O'Brien, to open a college in Commercial Square, North District, in September, 1878. For many years the work was continued in such class-rooms as could be afforded by rented premises, but at length a purchase was effected of a freehold property in Line Wall Road, also in the North District, and this building, after much labour, and a considerable outlay, was converted into a commodious educational establishment-the present

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Day
College.

Christian Brothers' method of teaching English.

Bi-lingual readers.

El mentary
Schools

Line Wall Day College. This establishment is not under Government inspection, but is the chief institution for secondary education in the Colony. It has ample accommodation for more than 150 pupils, and is furnished with all the necessary mathematical appliances, together with a good hall and museum. The course of studies comprises a complete English and commercial education, to which are added mathematics, physical sciences, drawing, vocal music, typewriting, modern languages, classics, and also gymnastics, the latter being under the tuition of the professor of the Garrison Gymnasium, where the students attend on two mornings in each week. The number of students in daily attendance is about 140, and at present the school is attended by fourteen non-Roman Catholics, who are not present during the religious instruction daily afforded to the Roman Catholic boys. The examinations are conducted annually by the College of Preceptors, and pupils are also prepared for matriculation at the Universities of the United Kingdom.

With respect to the plan adopted by the Christian Brothers generally for teaching the English language, it may be useful to note that at first the Ollendorf method was tried, but as this could only be utilised for the more advanced pupils, who were well able to read, it was found that a different plan must be adopted, and a Spanish-English vocabulary introduced at the very threshold of education. For this purpose a translation was made of the school reading books from the junior standards upwards, and these vocabularies, in manuscript form, were put into the hands of junior teachers, who were trained to use them in the same manner as the principals themselves.

In the course of one or two years' trial these manuscripts gave place to a comprehensive series of bi-lingual readers, which are now in the hands of all the children in the Christian Brothers' schools, and are also in use in some of the other schools in receipt of Government grants. This bi-lingual series is found of great utility in teaching English.

The schools at "Sacred Heart Terrace," in Bruce's Gully, North conducted by District, Upper Level, were built, partly by a donation from the Christian Government and partly by means of a bequest for educational purposes, at a cost of about £1,000. These schools have a daily attendance of 357 (1901), and have a teaching staff of six Brothers and eight pupil teachers.

Brothers.

The schools of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Upper Castle Road, also North District, Upper Level, have been recently built to replace the old schools in Castle Ramp. The total cost of building and furnishing of these schools amounted to £4,600, and they possess four large school-rooms, with four smaller rooms, and were built by means of a bequest left to the Vicar-Apostolic. The teaching staff consists of four Brothers, one extern master, and six pupil teachers. These schools have a daily attendance of 398 (1901).

The schools of Our Lady of Victories, in Naval Hospital Hill,