The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-01-04 00:00:00

THE WORKSHOP REGULATION ACT,
188"/:
"A Leiceeersliire Incumbent," in The Mae*, makes the
following idwiewidions on the Workshop Regulation At,
which came into operation on Wednesday, Jan 1: 7

It passed through Parliament with so little discus-
sion, and so late in the Session--it was actwilly the
last Act passed—that few persons comparatively, even
of those interested in its provisions, know much about
it. Ott ew 'rent's Day, it betigunes
It appears to me that the Committee of Council
would 'be doing a very wise thing if they would draw
up a short abstract of it, and canoe it to be posted in
a conspicuous place in every parish.
In the Midland counties it will cause almost a re-
volution, for the great demand for children's labour
carries ce.r scholars 114 a Wily early age. I have
knowil children put to the late-pillow al: fltieorsla
years of age. To "seaming," stocking-making, straw.
plaiting, they go commonly at eight or nine, or
even younger. In the great town of Leicester there
are few schmls where the average age of the lirst-class
exceeds 10. . . . . . .

But how are we to ex loin to our poorer neighbours
a difficulty which, of course, strikes them at once
Under this Jet .Ton Sttlss and Jane .Tones work-
ing at tailoring or reaming, are Carefully looked alter
by is benevolent Legislature, and, Somewhat against
the wishes of their shortsighted parents, compelled to
attend school ten hours a week; while BulSykes,
who his been at field work since he was old enough to
ware crows, may drive plough from Monday morning
till Saturday night, and no wise Act of Parliament
step in to see to hie schooling.
We can, of course, only tell them that we hope this
anomaly will soon be removed, and Bill Sykes July
eared for. •
Meanwnile, we of the clergy hail this Act as a move
in the light direction. We have spent our time and
money, far beyond our means, in order that our
children may not go untaught. Hitherto we have had
no fair chance against the powerful claims of labour,
though we have had too oiten to bear the blame of
our people's ignorance.
Let this Act be extended to all children, whatever
the nature of their labour, and upon this balf.time
system let the elementary education throughout the
country be bawd. You cannot refuge to listen to the
claims id the parent on the one hand, who has a right
to the produce of his child's labour when he is old
enough to earn a part of it, if not all his living • nor,
on the other hand, can you be blind to the Child's
highest interests, and suffer him to grow up to man's
estate in gross ignorance.
Graft this compulsory half-time Act on the whin.
tary system now at work, which, with all its faults, Las
done an immense deal in the last twenty years, and
would have done far more if the Committee of Council
had met it half-way, instead of keeping up a rigid
system of protecti di and refusing to recognise any
efforts save such as followed the somewhat narrow
groove of Downing-street.
I believe this would meet the present growing de-
mand for compulsory education. which, I tear, means
• secular education pure and simple. At all events, try
it for a while and then, if., tether by the folly of the
deny in dealing with their Dissenting neighbours—
which I do not fear—or from the apathy and negli-
gence of the people at large, it be found to have faile.l,
we nmst submit with the best grace we can to com-
pulsory education and all the enervating influences of
a Central Board and Minister of Instruction.

Mr. Alexander Redgrave, Inipector of Factoriem,
Factory Inspector's-office, 10, Whitehall, London,
writing upon the above subject, eats :
It is very little known that the reign of ignorance Is doomed
from to-day, and that henceforth every child that does any