besides the plantain-leaf, the leaf of the sâl tree is used in the third stage of instruction. The following is the distribution of the scholars into the four established grades:—
(a) | Scholars who write on the ground | . . . | 372 | |
(b) | on the palm-leaf | . . . | 3,551 | 3,570 |
on the wooden-board | . . . | 19 | ||
(c) | on the plantain-leaf | . . . | 299 | 397 |
on the sâl-leaf | . . . | 98 | ||
(d) | on paper | . . . | 2,044 |
The former remark applies here also, that nearly all the scholars are in the second and fourth stages of instruction.
In one school Christian instruction is communicated, in 35 schools commercial accounts only, in 47 schools agricultural accounts only, and in 316 schools both commercial and agricultural are taught. In one school commercial accounts and written works, and in 12 schools both commercial and agricultural accounts with written works are taught.
Subhankar was found in use in eight schools, and in one school a Bengali translation from Sanscrit called the Nataka of Jayadeva or Gita Govinda relating to the amours of Radha and Krishna. In one school two works were employed as school books called Ashta Dhatu and Ashta Sabdi, containing, respectively, the conjugation of eight Sanscrit verbs and the declension of eight Sanscrit nouns; and in four schools the verses of Chanakya were taught; in one with, and in three without, a Bengali translation.
District of Burdwan
The thirteen thanas of this district contain in all 629 Bengali schools, of which seven are found in one village, six in another, and five in a third. Nine villages contain three each; fifty-nine two each; and four hundred and sixty-six one each.
The number of teachers is 639, being ten in excess of the number of schools. Nine Missionary schools and one supported by the Rajah of Burdwan are conducted each by two teachers. Six hundred and sixteen common village schools and four Missionary schools are taught by the same number of teachers. The average age of all the teachers is 39·05 years. Three of the teachers are Christians, nine are Musalmans, and six hundred and twenty-seven are Hindus. The following are the castes of the Hindu teachers and the number of each:—
Kayastha | . . . | 487 |
Brahman | . . . | 107 |
Sadgop | . . . | 290 |
Aguri | . . . | 30 |
Vaishnava | . . . | 13 |
Teli | . . . | 10 |
Bhatta | . . . | 9 |
Gandhabanik | . . . | 6 |