"At a moderate calculation, among a million of persons inhabiting the metropolis, there are, at least, twenty-five thousand children who attend these schools, and cost their parents as many pounds sterling, per annum"

In this quote, Joseph Lancaster is commenting on the scale and financial impact of educational institutions in a large city, described as "the metropolitan area", which likely mention London in the early 19th century, offered Lancaster's historical context. Particularly, he is highlighting the considerable number of kids participating in school and the financial concern it puts on their families.

Lancaster begins with "a moderate calculation", recommending he is offering a conservative quote instead of an exaggerated claim. He refers to "a million of persons living in the city", which sets the scene in a densely populated city location, where concerns related to education availability and cost would be particularly pronounced.

He approximates that "a minimum of, twenty-five thousand kids" are participating in these schools. This figure highlights the significant demand for education. In Lancaster's time, public education was not universally offered, and private education typically filled the gap for many households who could afford it. Therefore, his reference to 25,000 children represents both a big market for instructional services and a significant portion of the population took part in schooling.

The phrase "cost their parents as numerous pounds sterling, per annum" concentrates on the financial implications of sending kids to school. Computing expenditures at twenty-five thousand pounds every year, Lancaster highlights the financial problem on households. In today's terms, this would be an economically significant amount, showing the worth put on education and the sacrifices families wanted to make for their kids's futures. The expense highlights the societal worth of education however likewise suggests the opportunity related to accessing it throughout that period.

In general, Lancaster is accentuating the crossway of education, economy, and social structure in an urban setting. He implicitly promotes for wider access to education, hinting at the need for reform to relieve the monetary pressure on households and to ensure that more kids might take advantage of education.