Attendance at Elementary Schools.

We need scarcely say that the sucess, not only of technical, but of the ordinary elementary instruction of our working population depends upon the regular attendance of the children at school and upon their remaning there sufficiently long to insure that the knowledge acquired shall leave some lasting impression on their minds. As will have appeared from other parts of this report, the children of the page 49 work people of Germany and Switzerland, with few exceptions, remain at school till the ago of fourteen years, and in some of the German States arc required to continue their elementary instruction two years longer in evening and Sunday schools, if their examination at fourteen has not been satisfactory. The wages of the parents in these countries are generally lower and the sacrifice of their children's earnings is consequently felt more than with us. The efficiency of the American workmen is mainly attributed, by all who have inquired into the subject, to the primary education acquired by them during a prolonged attendance at school. In our own country great diversity prevails as to the standard authorizing the employment of children as fall-timers. In Scotland this will be remedied by the act of last session. After next year no child under the age of fourteen years can be employed on full time in Scotland, unless it has passed the fifth standard. We have no doubt that all classes interested in industry will quickly reap the benefit of this amendment of the law, and we see no reason why this regulation should not be extended to England and Wales, so far as it applies to factories and workshops.