t it would be unwise and impracticable to
build separate schools for either the brick-yard, canal-boat, Gipsy, or
other children moving about the country, in tents, vans, &c., for their
use solely; especially would it be so in the case of Gipsy children and
roadside arabs. What I have been and am still aiming at is the education
of these children, not by isolating them from other
working-classes--colliers, potters, ironworkers, factory hands,
tradesmen, &c.--but by bringing them in daily contact with the children
of these parents, and also under some of the influences of our little
missionary civilisers who are brought up and receiving some of their
education in drawing-rooms, and whose parents cannot afford to send them
to boarding-schools, colleges, &c., and have to content themselves by
having their children educated at either the national, British, or Board
schools. I confess that it is not pleasant to hear that our children
have picked up vulgar words at school; and it requires patience, care,
and watchfulness on the part of parents to counteract some of the
downward tendencies resulting from an uneven mixing of children brought
up and educated under such influences. Better by far put up with these
little ills than others we know not of, the outcome of ignorance. On the
other hand, it is pleasing to note how glad the parents of Gipsy,
canal-boat, and brick-yard children are when their children pick up 'fine
words' and become more 'gentlerified' by mixing with children higher up
the social scale. Bad habits, words, and actions are generally picked up
between school times. It would be well for us to rub down class feeling
among children as much as possible as regards their education. The
children of brick-makers, canal-boatmen, and Gipsies are of us and with
us, and must be taken hold of, educated, and elevated in things
pertaining to their future welfare. The 'turning up of the nose,' by
those whose duty, education, and privilege should have taught them better
things, at these poor children has had more to do in bringing about their
pitiable and ignorant condition than can be imagined. The Canal Boats
Act, if wisely carried out, will before long bring about the education of
the canal-boat children; and in order to bring the Gipsy children, show
children, and other roadside arabs under the Education Acts, I am seeking
to have all movable habitations, _i.e._, tents, vans, shows, &c., in
which the families live