Endowments for Secondary Education

Abstract

WHILE, writing this article the following questions have been in mind:—(1) What are the number and extent of the educational endowments of our great public and other endowed schools (2) What were the intentions of their founders? (3)How are such intentions at present realised?(4) Can he endowments be made more generally available so as to increase their benefit to the public with the minimum departure from those intentions? The answer to the two latter questions must be that it is largely a question of degree; from the nature of the case an expression of opinion, not a precise estimate, is all that can be attempted. The first two questions relate to definite matters of fact, the answers to which ought to be ascertainable, but are only approximately to be determined. A better reply to (1) would be forthcoming had either the late or the present Government fulfilled their promises to obtain a return, to be presented to the House of Commons, giving statistics of the finance of all endowed schools. We are informed that the Charitable Trusts Division of the Board of Education is considering the details to be sought in such inquiry, and it is to be hoped that considerations of its cost will no longer be allowed to stay its fulfilment. In the meantime, the following condensed account, based on such materials as were obtainable, is submitted as calculated to correct some of the grosser errors prevalent with regard to the subject of our ancient endowments. The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to the writings of Mr. A. F. Leach (Charity Commissioner) and to the courteous help of the officials at the Education Board, of course without implying that they have any responsibility for the statements which follow.