Manuscript letter from Joseph Abbott to S. Leigh Gregson, 4th February 1882, concerning technical education.

Manuscript letter from Joseph Abbott to S. Leigh-Gregson, dated 4th February 1882. Written in response to a request for evidence that could be presented to the Royal Commission: 'requesting me to give you my views, as a teacher, on the subject of technical instruction, and as to the most efficient class of teachers for it'. Abbott argues that 'that as a general rule those are the most efficient who have been trained to teaching' and that 'the art of communicating knowledge is not identical with attainments, and it has, like many other things, to be acquired by experience'. Abbott notes that he 'has known men who were better instructors than some others who far surpassed them in attainments'. Abbott concludes by arguing that 'in some cases a "sine qua non" that the instructors should be men having the additional qualifications of being practically acquainted with the subjects taught'.