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ELSTREE SCHOOL:

INSTITUTED 1813.

THE Rector reports, that the School was opened in November last: that the progress which the Children have made in every branch of instruction has greatly exceeded his expectations, and that many who could scarcely read at their admission, can now not only read and spell with the greatest accuracy, but can repeat their lessons with or without book, with great facility. That he thinks the manners of the Children are visibly improved; has heard several of the Parents speak with great satisfaction of their behaviour at home; and can have no doubt that time will lead to many and extensive benefits. That no work of Industry, except plain work and knitting, has been introduced: that Visitors have been appointed, who occasionally attend. larly attend the Parish Church. School is supported, and the struction, are

That all the Chiiden reguThat, the funds by which the number of Children under in

Donations and Annual Subscriptions £110. Boys and Girls 75,

COUNTY OF ESSEX SOCIETY:

INSTITUTED 1812.

THE General Committee report, that at the Central School of the Eastern Division, established at COLCHESTER, as great progress has been made by the Children as could reasonably be expected; and that they are more orderly and tractable

than under the old method of instruction.

That considerable service has been rendered to the School by the inspection of a Deputation from the School Committee of the National Society, and by the attendance of the Master for a short time at the National Central School, which have had the effect of giving precision to the mode of instruction, of promoting activity, interest, and emulation in every Class: that a further advantage has redounded to the Establishment, from the celebration of an Anniversary Festival, a measure adopted with the view of affording encouragement to the Children-of procuring an accession to the funds-and of giving notoriety to their proceedings; and which has completely fulfilled their expectations.

That at the Central School of the Western Division, established at CHELMSFORD, the result of the monthly examinations, which are well attended, has been such as to give satisfaction to the Visitors, and to be creditable to the Master and Mistress in their respective departments. That to give a stimulus to the Boys, at the head of the several classes amongst whom it was observed that a want of energy in the execution of their offices prevailed, the expedient practised with much success at the GOWER'S WALK School, has been resorted to, of making a small weekly allowance to the Usher, for the time being, and to the respective Monitors, so long as they should merit, by their exertions, the approbation of the Master and Visitors; one half to be given them immediately, and the other left to accumulate till they quit the School: and that the measure has already been productive of the most salutary effects. That great advantages continue to accrue to the Girl's School from the frequent presence of many Ladies, who kindly persevere in interesting themselves in the welfare of that department, and give great encouragement to the Scholars by a judicious distribution of rewards, from the fund raised by their own Industry, and set apart for that purpose; and that emulation is much promoted, and order and decorum preserved amongst the Children in general by the hope and prospect of this recompence, at the close of the monthly examinations.

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That owing partly to the attraction of novelty having ceased to operate, and partly to the establishment of a well regulated Sunday School upon the National System, at the contiguous Parish of GREAT BADDOW, by which, many procure at home the benefits of Education, who were before obliged to seek it at the Central School, the number of Scholars is diminished: but that the attention of the active friends of the Institution is directed to the circumstance, and there is every reason to expect, that, as far as it is occasioned by an indifference on the part of the Poor to advantages so easily obtained, it will be remedied by their influence and recommendation.

That in prosecution of the further objects of the Societythe establishment of National Schools in all the Towns and Villages of the County, where Schools were wanting the introduction of the National System into Schools previously formed-and the connexion of these several establishments by one common bond of union, they have done every thing which the limited means placed at their disposal would allow. That in the Central School at COLCHESTER, five Masters, and in that at CHELMSFORD, one, have been qualified for conducting Schools within the County. That they have granted pecuniary aid towards the building or alteration of Schools

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have taken upon themselves the charge of printing papers put in circulation by the TENDERING and LEXDEN Deaneries, conveying useful information relative to the institution and conduct of Schools; and have dispensed the Society's bounty in grants of Elementary Books to the Schools at GREAT BADDOW, WEST HANNINGFIELD, GREAT LEIGH, ROCHFORD, and CHIPPING ONGAR, on their first formation.

That convinced of the importance of obtaining periodical

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Reports from all the Schools in union, they have prepared a convenient form, which was transmitted to the Superintendents of these several establishments, and though in some instances the desired return has not been made, they have collected by this expedient abundant proofs of the encreasing influence and extension of the National System, as will be seen by the following statement.

That at the period to which the last annual account brought up the Society's proceedings, there were associated with it only the Central Schools of the eastern and western Division, and 34 others, of which 26 were comprised within the Deanery of TENDRING; and that in these Schools 3129 Children were under instruction. That the Schools in Union and Correspondence with the Society, and conducted nearly or altogether upon the National System, now amount to 96, and the number of Children to upwards of 7000.

That in addition to the School-rooms built at WEELY, by the ARCHDEACON of COLCHESTER; at HARWICH, by the CORPORATION; and at WITHAM, by the contribution of the Inhabitants, the two last at the cost of £500. and £350. respec

*The advantages likely to result from this measure are thus detailed by the Essex Committee-" Independently of its forming the vital principle of the co-operation of the System, the Superintendent who is to furnish a report, will always take care that he shall have something to report, and will be solicitous for the prosperity of a School, the progress of which is to be laid before the Public, and which will, more or less, reflect credit upon himself. He will, therefore, keep the Master to his duty; will en force the attendance of the Scholars; will watch over the progress and discipline of the School; will take care that approved books only be admitted within its walls, will call the Sub-Committee together as often as occasion may require; will husband the resources of the School; and will be active and diligent in promoting and collecting subscriptions: while, at the same time, the Subscribers themselves will be stimulated in this part of their duty, by a knowledge that their readiness or back. wardness in support of the Institution, will certainly be known to the Public.

tively, there have been erected at BOCKING, and at SOUTHMINSTER, through the zealous exertions of Dr. WORDSWORTH and Dr. SCOTT, two spacious and substantial School-rooms, at the respective charges of £490. and £350., the one by the voluntary contributions of the Inhabitants, the other from the Parish Rates. That at FRIERNING a School is building under the superintendence of Dr. MITCHELL, the Rector; and that T. H. RIGBY, Esq. of Mistley Hall, having liberally granted the Inhabitants of MANNINGTREE a piece of ground, they are preparing to erect a School-Room, of large dimensions.

That in several places considerable expence has been incurred, in providing suitable accommodation for the Children at Church, and that the general result collected from all the reports, of the interest thus taken in the Religious Education of the Infant Poor, is, that they are become more diligent and orderly, more happy in themselves, and well-behaved in their intercousre with others: that instead of violating the sanctity of the Sabbath, they are not unfrequently seen reading the Bible to their Parents on Sunday evening, and by the regular and distinct manner in which they join at proper intervals in the service of the Church, and in some places lead the Psalmody, give more life and earnestness to the devotion of the people; and have, in a great degree, superseded that indifferent and inanimate mode of muttering the responses too frequently to be met with in our village Churches.

That in prosecution of the important measure of giving encreased efficiency to old Foundations and Schools previously established, by the introduction of the National System, the Foundation Charity Schools at BOCKING", BURNHAM, and RETTENDEN have been re-modelled, after the example of COLCHESTER and DUNMOW, with the consent of their respective Trustees, and under

*The Report transmitted by the DEAN of the revival and re-arrangement of this School under his judicious directions, is so important both in its detail and consequences, that the General Committee anticipate the thanks

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