Appendix Y. Statement respecting the Schools for Male Prisoners in Millbank Prison. MILLBANK JUVENILE CLASS. THE prisoners in the Juvenile Ward are instructed every evening (excepting Saturday), for two hours, from half-past six till half-past eight, when prayers are read; the whole concluding by a quarter before nine. They stand in class under the immediate instruction of the Schoolmasters, during a portion of the time, and during the remaining portion of the time they are seated on forms in the body of the room employed in preparing lessons, or practising writing and arithmetic, except when receiving a writing lesson at the desks. The Books used in the School are,― The Holy Scriptures, The Church Catechism, The Faith and Duty of a Christian, Questions on the Holy Scriptures, by Judson, The Reading Book of the Adult School Society, Nos. 2, 3, and 4, Lesson Books of the British and Foreign School Society. Elements of Arithmetic. The following is an outline of the plan pursued,— The 1st (or most advanced) Class, (present number 74,) in three sections under one Master, each section being with the Master during a period of 40 minutes. Reading from Lesson Books, ditto. Wednesday... Reading from Lesson Books and examination thereon, 40 minutes. Writing from dictation, 20 minutes. ditto. Scripture Reading and Questions thereon Friday..........Arithmetic 20 minutes. Reading from Lesson Book ditto. In addition to which they have a Writing lesson on Tuesday evenings by another master. Second Class (present number 115) in four sections under two Masters, each section. standing before the Master for two periods of half an hour each, the other two half hours employed as explained above. The 3rd (or lowest) Class, present number 51, in two sections under one Master. The boys in this class are simply taught to read while standing with the Master. They are taught writing and arithmetic by the Writing Master on Monday evenings and also writing on Wednesday and Friday evenings, having three lessons in writing per week. On Wednesday evenings the whole school is instructed in Psalmody by one of the Masters, from eight to half-past eight, and occasionally on Friday evenings a gallery lecture on some scientific subject is given by one of the Masters from three-quarters past seven to half-past eight, the other lessons being adjusted accordingly. On Sunday evenings the instruction is strictly of a religious character, the subjects being the Collect for the day with Scripture references, and the Church Catechism broken into short questions with Scripture references; the Collect and a portion of the Catechism being committed to memory by the boys. Those of a different communion who may oject to learn the Church Catechism, are allowed to learn a portion of Scripture instead. PRISONERS NOT IN THE JUVENILE CLASS. The boys under seventeen years of age receive instruction under three Schoolmasters, one half of them on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the other half on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in the morning from three-quarters past nine till three-quarterspast twelve. The whole number (at present 135) would receive instruction daily if the room were sufficiently large. They are taught Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. The religious instruction comprises the Church Catechism and simultaneous Scripture Lessons upon Mimpress's System. The general mass of male prisoners in the pentagons are taught as often as opportunity permits, in their wards, about twenty being assembled at one time. They received instruction as above for the space of two hours and three-quarters, twice every week from the commencement of the year 1844 to the beginning of September in the same year. During the remainder of the year 1844 and the first three-quarters of the year 1845, they received instruction as above upon an average, three times in two weeks, and during the latter quarter once per week. From the commencement of the present year, 1846, tothe end of August, the average has been five times in eleven weeks. They are at present receiving instruction once per week. The reason of this variation will be better understood from the accompanying detail. The number of prisoners is constantly fluctuating, and when a ward is full (the complement being twenty-eight or thirty), some of the best-informed are left in their cells, in order to reduce the school to a manageable number, and the instruction is given to those who most need it. In September 1844, the number of Schoolmasters was reduced from eight to seven, and as the whole number attend in the Juvenile Ward in the evening, this will account for the diminution of instruction in the pentagons at that period. On January 1st, 1845, the number was reduced to six, and in March 1846, to five, in June to four, but two at least of the Religious Instructors, previously to their embarkation have been acting in the capacity of Schoolmasters, making six in all. In October 1845 the school for the younger boys was opened, employing three Masters in the morning of each day. The Schoolmasters are frequently called away from their proper duties to assist as Clerks in the various offices of the establishment; one has been thus employed in the Secretary's, Governor's and Chaplain's offices at various times, making in all three months since January 1845; another in the Secretary's office during the months of April, May, and June; and a third in the same office during May, June, July, and August. They are taught Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. In reference to religious instruction, the "Faith and Duty" being used as a text book. The prisoners are required to refer to the Scripture passages bearing on the subject, the Schoolmaster putting such questions as may suggest themselves at the time. JOHN PENNY, Chaplain. TAKEN BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF MILLBANK PRISON. Presented by Command to the House of Commons, in pursuance of their LONDON: PRINTED BY T. R. HARRISON. |