County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

Headwork and land work in Elementary Schools. This was the subject of a practical paper read by Sir Philip Magnus at the confer- ence or Manual Training Teachers, at Clerk- enwell, a few days ago. Sir Philip pointed out that while in 1893 we had no schools earning the Government grant for manual instruction, last year there were as many as 1749 schools, with over a hundred thousand scholars, so engaged and subsidised. Cogently he argued that instead of striving to make children know we should teach them to do. Learning in all its stages should be action, a search after really useful know- ledge. Before long, Sir Philip Magnus predicted, the central feature in all our schools would be THE WORKROOM— I as distinguished from the class room-the room, or shop, or laboratory in which children worked with their own hands with tools and measuring instruments, and gained their knowledge by their own obser- vation and ordinary experimental methods It would transfigure the entire teaching. It would remodel the school buildings. In the near future no headmaster would be appointed who was not familiar with- work- shop methods, or who was unable to apply those methods to the teaching of other subjocts in the school curriculum. In the workroom for girls, what was known as domestic economy would become the dominant subject of instruction. The prob- Jem of developing a complete curriculum for girls from the scientific teaching of 0 COOKERY AND NEEDLEWORK and their allied subjects had yet to be solved. But there could be no doubt that, as soon as these subjects were better taught 0 than they were at present, they would regulate and determine the entire course of practical study in our girls' schools. For such teaching no costly apparatus was needed. The school workrooms might easily be fitted with the necessary appliances for enabling the pupils to carry out the simple experiments required at this early stage of their education. It was, however, said Sir Philip with emphasis, an essential feature of the instruction that the children should work out their own problems, that they should make their own calculations, their 't"ó1'" own measurements, their own drawings, and should DETERMINE FOR THEMSELVES I some of the simple properties of the materials they handled, just in the same way as they themselves planed aud sawed, and shaped with the chisel the rough material they used. But Sir Philip had hopes that the new educational authorities would be in a position to try experiments in the schools under their control, and that they would not he bouud too tightly by the rigid rules of any central authority, nor fettered by requirements connected with the earning of State grants. It would be seen at once that before such a reform could be effected in our primary education, many of the existing provisions of the Code must be modified. Manual instruction must com- mence at an earlier age than was now r3 prescribed, and I SOME METHOD MUST BE DEVISED of continuing without break or interruption throughout the child's school life the prin- cipal teaching of the kindergarten. Work- shop instruction must cease to be regarded as an extra or special subject, on which additional grants might be earned indeed, all special subjects must be abolished and the school curriculum must be regarded as a whole. In the future manual training would be closely associated with the teach- ing of drawing, geometry, arithmetic, and so-called elementary science, and would govern aod give unity to the entire scheme of study. The changes he had indicated would involve corresponding changes in the construction and equipment of our school buildings. In future the workrooms would be the principal features in these buildings. and what were known as class rooms would be only incidental adj uncts. Manual train- ing centres, to which children from different schools were drafted, would cease to exist, HANDWORK CONSTITUTING THE CHIEF PART I of the curriculum of each separate school. there is no grade-education, the efficiency of which is of more import nationally than that imparted in our elementary schools. In those schools the great bulk of the popu- lation received their entire school training —the training that must serve them as a preparation for their life's work—and it was from those schools that the brighter children were drafted for subsequent advanced instruction, It was, therefore, a matter of the utmost importance that the conditions of primary education should be most carefully determined. It was equally important, too, that the education should be not only efficient, but also economical- economical of the child's time and of the country's purse and to this end it should be such as aimed at CREATING ABILITIES AND APTITUDES I that grew into and formed part of the physical and mental character of the child, exercising a permanent influence for good over his thoughts and actions. Money wisely spent by the nation in fitting the rising race to earn their living indepen- dently will be repaid abundantly by the saving in poor rates and the like, which it will inevitably bring about. Sir Philip Magnus and those who think and act with him are indubitably on the right track.

[VVe do not necessarily endorse all onr correspondent writes.-ED. "C.O."I VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS. I have received the following pertinent notes on the recent remarks of Sir George Kekewich, K.C.B. :— .1If. "Sir George Kekewich is reported to have stated that 'church schools were built by the church, not primarily for the purposes of secular, but for the purposes of religious, instruction. The State by its grants had paid the cost of these Schools over and over again. He should say the State had the absolute right to acquire those buildings, for such education, secular and religious, as was the common right of a Protestant people.' This extraordinary statement should not go unchallenged. The church built her schools for the purposes of education,' and believes that education' is not complete unless religion be taught as well as secular knowledge imparted. He proceeds to say that the State has paid for the buildings over and over again by grants. It surely should be known to the ex- Secretary of the Board of Education that the grants are a paymeut for work done, in the schools. The buildings might be perfect, but unless the children were properly taught in them, there would be no grant. Up till quite recently the test of the three Rs was applied to every child. Now the examination is more general, but still the grant is paid for work done. How does that pay for the buildiag ? If we employ a carpenter to do certain work for us in his workshop, and we pay him for it, do we thereon base auv-claim to have purchased his workshop, though he may have worked for us regularly for years ? Such talk is absolute nonsense. The State has not paid for the buildings which the spirit of grab would now annex." COMPOSITION. The human body was the subject set for an essay at a Board School (says the Daily Express.") A little girl sent in the following. It is absolutely genuine. It shows a most delightful confusion of ideas, yet withal a clear- ness of thought:— The human body is divided into three parts, the head, the chest, and the tummick. The head contains the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and brains, if any. The chests contains the heart, lungs, and part of the liver. The tummick is entirely devoted to the vowels, of which there are fire, namely, a e i o u, and sometimes y and z. CHA.RITY. Charity covers the multitude of sins, and it is a matter for congratulation th-it the virtue con- tinues very apparent in the life of our people and nation. The latest Charity Commissioners. reports show the total value of investments held by the official trustees of charitable funds at the close of last year to be 222,314,735, divided into 22,798 separate grauts. The aggregate income from stocks, securities, and annuities aggregated 2646,517 in 1902. During the three-quarters ending December 31st, 1901, 1670 new charities founded by will or deed came to the notice of the Commissioners, involving a capital of X6,500,000 and upwards. May we ever have a tear for pity, and a hand open as day for meeting charity." CANCER CURE. There would seem to be some hope of dealing- successfully with that inscrutable and appal- ling mystery" cancer. According to one account—based, it is said, oa good authority-— the cancer commission, wheu it issues its report, will recommend the electric high frequency I, treatment for the malady. A remarkable case of apparent cure just effected by means of the X rays is reported. The patient was no less a personage than the Primate of all Canada, and he came to town suffering from two growths of sarcoma on the spine. The case seemed a hopeless one. The Archbishop, however, put himself under the care of Sir Thomas Barlow and two other well-known physicians, and was subjected to the X-ray treatment. This went on from the end of July last to the present time, with the result that the wounds have healed and entirely dis- appeared. SUBMARINE NAVIGATION. Truly There is no new thing under the sun," as Solomon said in the long ago. Even 11 the history of submarine navigation goes back for a couple of thousand years. Aristotle tells us that diviug bells were used by Alexander the Great during the siege of Tyre, 332 B.C. An Arabian historian named Bohaddin, living about 1150 A D., relates that a diver entered Ptolemais during a siege by means of a submarine appa- ratus In 1605, Magnus Pegelills launched & contrivance which was the marvel of its time. Then came Cornelius van Drebbel, a Dutch physician, who in 1620 built three navigable submarine boats.

USK. Agent-Mrs. E. K. Jones, Stationer ANGLING.-The river has been in good condition for the angler, but the cold winds prevailing have been against successful sport On Friday Mr J. Pitt opened the town water account with two salmon, 13ilb and 12i!b. On Saturday Mr R. Riokards. J.P., killed one, 101b, in Coed prior; and on Monday, Mr Kirkpatrick one, 91b. Baskets of trout, ranging from nine braca downwards, havep been taken. THE BOROUGH MEMBER.—As announced in advertisement elsewhere, Sir Joseph Lawrence, AT. P., will hold a Public Meeting in the Town Hall, Usk, on Thursday next, at 8 p.m., when it is hoped there will be a large attendance. Politicians of all shades will be heartily welcome. The hon member will spend several days in the constituency next week and will also address meetings in Newport and Monmouth. MINSTKELSY. As will be seen by advt., the How-de-do.de" Minstrels will give two enter- tainments in the Town Hall next week, viz., on Tuesday and Wednesday. Apart from the fact that they h ive an excellent programme to put before ths townspeople, which should in itself draw full. houses," the troupe deserve support out of grati- tude for their past contributions to the funds of needy organisations in the town, and, doubtless, will receive it. U D.C.-Full report of the annual meeting, held on Thursday, will appear next week.— Sir Hiley was re-electad Chairman; all committees were re- elected the question of repairs to Board room, &c^ was reierrea to tne btreet Committee the Surveyor was requested to report on the water cart question the grazing of the cattle market meadow was let to Mr Workman, junr., for Yl and it was reported that a new face had been ordered for the Town Hall clock. LETTING OF GRASS LAND.—-At Llanusk Farm, Llanbadoc, Messrs Marfell and Poole, instructed by Mr E. Williams, conducted the first annual letting of about 100 acres of rich meadow land for grazing on the farm up to the 24th December next, om Thursday. A representative company sat down to an excellent luncheon at one o'clock, after which the letting was proceeded with. The principal buyers were Messrs Knipe, G. Derrett, R. Miles, A. Jones, and Job White, and the prioes ranged from 49 s to 60s per acre.

USK & DISTRICT RIFLE CLUB. ——— The competition for the second handsome Corona- tion medal offered by Mr Joseph Davies was con- cluded on Thursday night. The medal was shot for on handicap terms and Mr H. Best won. His win was very popular for the reason that, though a regular attendant at the competitions, he has not previously been a winner. last this w'k w'k Hep Tfcl„ Messrs H.Best. 27 25 8 60 A. F. Lucas 26 32 51i H. Marfell 28 29 1 .58 A. G. Wallace 26 27 4 57 C J. Francis 27 27 2 53 T. Rees, Junr (Usk) 22 30 4 56 D. Rees 29 22 3 54 G. Edmunds 18 31 3 52 F. H. Waters 32 19 51 P. T. Clift 21 27 4S G. M. Sinith 24 23 47 Reuben Morgan 24 19 4 47 Also shot: -Nlessrs J. C. Lowe, J. S. Birrell, A. J. Thomas, F. Hobbs, T. Savery, and F. J. Edmunds. It is proposed to wind up the season next and following weeks with a competition for a valuable medal offered by the N.R. Association, and to resume in the autumn when outdoor amusements claim less attention.

PRESENTATION TO MR. W. R. MARTIN. Mr W. R. Martin, who retired from the post of organist of St. Mary's Church, Usk, after th& services on Easter Sunday, was, on behalf of that choir, presented with a handsome timepiece, surmounted by a. bronze ornament, in the Vestrjr on Easter eve. The timepiece, which strikes the hours and half-hours, bore the following engraved inscription, on a brass plate St Mary's Church, Usk. Presented to Mr W. Martin by the membera of the choir. April, 1903." The Rev P. L. C. Nash (Rector) made the presentation, and said he asked Mr Martin' acceptance of the timepiece and ornament as & small token of the esteem in which he was held by the choir, and as an appreciation of his services as organist. Mr Martin's loyalty and devotion, both to himself and the Church, could not have been, surpassed by anybody, and he heartily thanked, him therefor. He hoped Mr Martin would continue to assist them, and wished him a prosperous life and a happy one. The Rev Digby Nicholl, endorsed the Rector remarks, and said he had been much struck with the assiduity with which Mr Martin had devotodu