PETERSFIELD.]—THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS.—On Monday, the 7th inst., the Committee of these schools presented their eighty-eighth report at the quarterly meeting, which was of a very satisfactory nature. The number of children on the books, including Buriton National and Infant Schools, amounts to 346. The instruction given generally to the scholars is of a high order, and fully calculated to fit the children for the different spheres of life. This was fully borne out by the late report of the Government Inspector, who also took occasion at the same time to eulogise the talent of the present much-respected master, Mr. Macfarlane, Mr. Shears, Miss Taylor, and their junior tutors. It is particularly gratifying to state, that there were never greater facilities in this town and neighbourhood for the instruction of the rising generation of all classes than at the present day; for, in referring back to not more than a quarter of a century, the only free school in the town then was a Nonconformist school, still in existence, and giving instruction to nearly 200 children of both sexes, and numbering about forty voluntary teachers.
Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 12 June 1858
PETERSFIELD
NATIONAL SCHOOLS.—The committee of this valuable institution held its 88th quarterly meeting a few days since, when the state of the schools was reported to be eminently efficient and satisfactory. There are at present 346 children on the books, viz., 166 boys, 122 girls, and 58 infants. The staff of teachers in the boys’ and girls’ schools consists of the head master (Mr. Macfarland), the mistress (Miss Taylor), and an assistant master (Mr. Sears), and six pupil teachers, while the training of the infants is conducted by Mrs. Simpson, who has had the charge of this department for many years. The regular attendance and satisfactory progress of the children is attested by the amount of ‟capitation fee” obtained from the Committee of Council on Education, which exceeds that of any school in the south of England, and is equalled by only ten others in all england and Wales. A new feature has lately been introduced by the zealous and talented head master in a classical and commercial class for the children of the middle and upper grades of the community, which promises to be very successful. It is also gratifying to find that the cause of adult education is progressing among us. Of five members of the winter evening classes who were candidates for the prizes offerd by the Hants and Wilts Adult Eductaion Society three were successful, and the other two were commended and each presented with a book as a reward for their efforts.