Colonial Times
, 23 April 1839
THE ORPHAN SCHOOLHaving long had in contemplation a visit of inspection to this Establishment, we availed ourselves of the only leisure day last week afforded, and, early on Friday morning, proceeded thither, accompanied by an intelligent companion. The morning was fine, bracing, and beautiful; and the School-house and Church, as we rode up to them, presented a very engaging object in the splendid landscape. We were received with the most courteous attention and politeness, and, had not been in the building many minutes, before we were joined by the Head master and Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Naylor, who evinced every inclination, and facility, for giving us all possible information. Every one knows how pleasing an appearance the exterior of the building exhibits : we wish we could say as much of the interior : but this, we cannot do, as the majority of the apartments, allotted to the use of the children, are cold, comfortless, and ill arranged, upon a most mistaken system of parsimonious economy. The washing places, or lavatories (to use a word more euphonous for the polite and learned ears of our court contemporary) are highly objectionable : they consist of cell-like room, paved with flags, with a stone trough in then centre, open at both ends, and, consequently, extremely cold and comfortless. Indeed, the prevalence of stone pavement, throughout the lower apartments of the building, is, in our humble opinion, highly detrimental to the health of the inmates; in one room, we saw five little fellows, blue and shivering with cold; there was, it is true, a fire place in the room, but no fire. In short, there seems to be no attempt at comfort for the boys, whose general appearance bespeaks abjectness and squalor. We have seen many emblages of children in our time, both at home and abroad, but never did we see two hundred human beings, that exhibited so squalid an appearance, as did the majority of the Queen's Orphans. Some half-dozen or so--and amongst these a black native boy--appeared intelligent and sprightly; but, the majority, as we have already observed, displayed a very different appearance. The regulations are good, and the system of tuition, tolerable; but the teachers are too few, and too ill paid for their labor. Due attention is paid to religious instruction; but we would suggest, that, instead of the morning devotion now used, and selected from the liturgy, a short series of appropriate prayers, after the plan of Christ's Hospital, in London, should be read. Perhaps the Archdeacon, who, we learn, is at the head of the Schools, will direct his attention to this subject. By the bye, has the Archdeacon lately visited the Orphan School?
The play ground is too much exposed, and unsheltered, except on two side by a
sort of half shed, which affords no cover for the children; there should be
ample and, extensively covered cloisters, all round the ground, where the boys
might exercise themselves in cold, or wet weather. The place is kept very
clean, but too much labor is expended upon it, which might be remedied, if a
better supply of water were provided; there should be a fountain in the centre
of the play ground, so that, in case of fire, or otherwise, there might be a
full and adequate supply.
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