William Mercer Green Papers Box 1 Folder 16 Correspondence 1868-69 Document 7

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S. Paul's School May 15th 1868

The Rt. Rev Bishop Green

Rt. Rev and dear Sir,

Your letter of May 4th reached me in the early part of this week. I have to thank you for the full and clear information you have furnished in answer to the inquiry of Mr. Harrison and myself. I much wish that before coming to a decision it had been possible for me to have had a personal consultation with yourself. It would be much pleasant to me to be able to write that I accept the call to the South -- But after the most candid and careful review of the facts which it has

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been in my power to give law led to believe that I ought to decline the invitation. An unexpected event wh. has occurred within the last two days has confirmed this decision. The views of the trustees comtemplate a School carried on in a different way from those in which I have lived. Indeed certain features of their scheme are in direct conflict with the source of the principles wh. my reading + experience have made me suppose to be essential to the succesful management a great School. I do not pretend to say that I am right in my opinions -- indeed I am fully aware that in education there is room for a large diversity of judgement as to means and methods.

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I heartily agree in your condemnation of the "barrack system". The admirable flaw pursued at the School to which I am now attached secures (though by a different arrangement) in the happiest way those very advantages of house -- like influences and comforts which the Trustees of the Univeristy are so anxious to make a brief feature of their insitution. Here it is proposed to follow the [place?] of the Principal English Public, to have the boys distributed in different houses; but these houses are to be under the control of Masters, the boys are to live in their faculties. Thus we think the refinement and comfort of house will be secured as far as can be at school, while that watchful helpful care of mind and body which a boy needs can be given more certainly + more directly than where a

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large number are collected under one roof. And further good order and discipline are [thus?] certain to be quietly maintained in the families presided over by responsible and experienced men. It seems to me that according to the present arrangements of the Trustees the HeadMaster is very much restricted in his control. In England the opinion appears to be that while he ought to be held strictly responsible for the working of the School he should have a large and ample authority. They carry this principle to an extent that we have few or no examples of in this

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