The principal cause of the discontent which certainly prevails respecting the management of The Free Grammar School at Wolverhampton, is a feeling that Classical instruction is little needed by the mass of inhabitants of a manufacturing and trading Town,—and a wish, that the now ample revenue should be applied in part at least, in the establishment of such modes of education as might render it more generally beneficial to the Town and Neighbourhood.—And, when it is stated, that the Trustees are limited by the terms of the Foundation to the maintenance of a Grammar School, it is answered, that they have already departed from the strict line of their authority, in the appointment of Masters for Drawing and Modern Languages, and might with equal propriety extend the exercise of their discretion to other objects, which the wants and interests of the place require. Under the words of the Charter, which speaks of other necessary things to be done, besides the maintenance of the Master and Usher, a discretion appears to be vested in the Trustees, of making such reasonable additions to the establishment, as may be auxiliary to the Grammar School,-and the additions which they have already made, appear to The Commissioners to have been of that description, and to have been beneficial to the School,-but they can scarcely think that the Trustees would be authorized, without the sanction of the Court of Chancery, in applying any part of their funds in the establishment of a course of education, wholly distinct from the Grammar School, and in a great measure incompatible with it.19 Although certain measures are said to have been adopted by a considerable majority of the Twenty-four of the parish of Bedale, yet a strong feeling appears to prevail against them in the minds of some of the inhabitants,—and in so far as they are calculated to supersede the use of the 19 Rep. IV. p. 355. endowed Grammar School, against the management of which no complaint is stated to have existed, and to transfer the funds appropriated for it's support to the purposes of a National School, the propriety of the measure may certainly be doubted, and the authority on which their Resolutions rest, appears to The Commissioners to be very questionable. The intention, however, of supplanting or abolishing the Grammar School is disclaimed on the part of the Trustees, who are ready, it is said, to re-place it on it's former footing, whenever the demand for Classical instruction revives, or the interests of the place shall appear to require it.20 The Commissioners cannot but esteem it a matter of regret, that no advantages are at present derived from the Free Grammar School at Dilhorne of the kind which appears to have been intended by 20 Rep. vII. p. 681. The Founder, and for securing which he has provided so respectable an endowment, but it is not, perhaps, much to be wondered at that the School should have lost it's original character of a Grammar school, the parishioners of Dilhorne, to whom it's benefits are practically confined, consisting, as The Commissioners were informed, of such descriptions of persons as are not likely to require Classical instruction for their children,—nor does it seem likely, that in such a situation a Classical free school could be maintained to any extent, unless it were combined with a Boarding School.21 It may be worthy of remark, that at a Meeting of the parishioners of Dilhorne, which was holden by the Master's desire in January 1814, in order to settle in what manner the School should be conducted in future, it was determined by all the parties present, that in future the instruction given should be English, writing, and 21 Rep. xi. p. 366. |