The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-07 00:00:00

EDUCATION,

-
MINUTES OF TIM PRIVY COUNCIL.—Mr. E.
Swains has made in tho Patriot the following proposal with
respect to the :Minuted of Education, which is worthy of
attention
The minutes relating to religion are ea follows:
' In schools connected v. ith the Church of England, they
(candidates for pupil teacl.ors) wit be required to repeat the
Catechism; and, to show that they understand its meaning,
and are acquainted with the outline of Scripture history,
the parochial clergyman will assist in this part of the ex-
amination. In other school,, the state of the religious
knowledge will be certine.l by the managers.
'More completely (in fifth year of pupil-teachers' exami-
nation) in the Holy Scriptures, Liturgy, and Oatechism, in
Church of England echoed ; the parochial clergyman assist-
ing in the examination.
' In Church of England schools, the parochial clergyman,
and in other schools, tho managers, will also certily, that
the pupil-teachers, or stipondiary monitors, have been atten-
tive to their religions dirtied'
" These minutes are not required for any equitable service
they can do the church. It would, indeed, ril become dis-
senters to find fault with the matter or mode of teaching in
church-schools, and to require any conformity in them to
nonconformist views. But if the government were dis-
tinctly to avow only general knowledge to be the subject of
legislation, it would not prohibit any religious or catectetical
teaching which the school. might give. It would leave intact
church principles and church teaching, give no offence to dis-
senting Envies, and avoid the barrier which the minutes, as
they now stand, present in many minds to their adoption.
But for these minutes the government measures would have
the prompt and effective co-operation of many who wil be
consdentrously opposed to them if those minutes remain
Take them away, and dissenters might accept gnaws
without compromise of their conscientious dislike
to legislation on religion ; and many would do so,
although some, like myself, do not think government grants
the best mode, or even a good mole, of assisting education;
and would prefer a cemprehensivc scheme, equitable to all,
and free from the objection of helpiug most those who require
least. But, if the objectionable minutes cited were with-
drawn, the state would be free in tho matter from all reli-
gious parties, and that general concurrence be promoted,
which is essential to a full and salutary attainment of the
end proposed. It would not then be the patron of opposite
sects, inviting and paying for the anomalous reports, and
equally anomalous claims to approval implied in the last
minute I have quoted. It would stand in no relation to
sects. It would know only promoters of that general in-
struction, without which society would be half savage, and
person and property be without a security.which is infinitely
etronger than bars and bolts, prisons and 'police.
In the hope that government may not to un-
willing to concede what is reasonable, when fairly put before
it, I would respectfully suggest to diseenters who are
not opposed to government aid in the matter altogether, to
seek by petition, or deputation, or otherwise :-Ist. That the
measures be modified so as to require nothing whatever,
either of inspection or report, of any school of any denomi-
nation, on the subject of religion. 2n.1. That while all par-
ties accepting the grants should be. free to conduct their
schools according to their religious views, instructing in re-
ligion as much as they please, no child in such school should
he required to learn cay catechism, or give attendance on the
Sunday, against the expressed desire of the:parents. 3rd. That
any school, the erection or support of which has been aided
by government grants, may become free from government
control or inspection, on re-payment of the sum
advanced, and discontinuance of the grant in support.
(There can be no doubt that this will be granted.
The British and Foreign School is to be free whenever it
pleases upon repayment of the 5,0001. grant for its normal
school.) If these points were conceded, I apprehend much
opposition would le disarmed, and many who are now in
doubt would become supporters of the government measures.