The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-21 00:00:00

DEPUTATION OF SCHOOLMA
EDUCATION AND THE CHURCH.-13
OP THE GOVERNMENT.

A deputation of schoolmasters, consisting of Messrs.
Diann, Farnham, Geillian, Hay, Marshall, Reid, Self, and
Stevenson, waited on toe Lord Pr.sident of the Council, at
the Council- of Downing-street, on Saturday last, to
present a meinnrial from the church schoolmasters and
schoolmistress.. of England and Wales, against the altera-
tions made during last year in the minutes of Privy Council
of 1847, respecting the management of schools.
Mr. Hay, in presenting the memorial to Lord Granville,
said that the deputation did not represent any separate
association. It was deemed advisable to form a general
committee of metropolitan schoolmasters, in order to ascer-
tain the feeling of the great body of teachers of church
schools. An appeal was issued by the committee, and
circulated throughout England and Wales. By the replies
they have received, they are assured that there is a strung
and, decided opposition to the altered minutes throughout
the country. Ten provincial associations of church school-
. masters have adopted resolutions approving of the appeal,
and of the steps taken by the metropolitan committee.
Mr. Sim, assured his lordship that no feeling of mere op-
' position actuated the committee by whom the deputation
was sent; it -am rather a defence of our rights as English-
men and as Christians. Instances were set forth showing
that efforts have been prey...lady made to degrade rather
than elevate the scho dmaister ; but the alterations made in
June, 18.52, in the minutes of the Committee of Council,
were telt to be more oppressive than any former effoi Is. At
present man L schoolmasters had barely a subsistence, and
it was a her hip not deserved to have the dread of suspen-
sion added to his present lowly position. It was rather de-
!kohl.: to make the tenure of his office more permanent and
the resources of his school more certain.
Mr. RIM referred to the reports of the Committee of
Council as furnishing abundant evidence of the insecurity
of both the income and the position of the schoolmeter.
In comparing the condition of the schoolmaster in Scotland
and England, it was shown that much greater security was
made fur masters in Seetland than in England.
Mr. FallanAM wished to acknowledge the obligation of
the schoolmaster to the Committee of Council for having im-
proved his income, advanced his position in the country,
and given him a standing amongst his neighbours suitable
to the claims of his office.

--P.arldisexTlLLl47nreplying to the deputation, stated,
that immesliately after the publication of the altered
minutes by the late government, Lord Lansdowne, in the
House of Peers, objeet,d to the administration of the edu-
extioaal greet ewer that minute, being contrary to the
conditions upon welch it had been granted. The late ors•
cerement promised to keep the minute in abeyance till a
farther edueatiouid grant was asked for. The present
government had takeu the sieject into consideration, and
his Lordship stated thst the committee of council would not
elute to any light decision on the matter. Very shortly
Lord lobo Russell will lay before the House of Commons
the intentions of the government, which will embody the
subject of the memorial. The noble lord considered it was
the duty of the committee of council to listen to any
grievances from schoolmasters, being fully assured that
they would not base them ODD." frivolous grounds. His
lordship regretted that any idifference should arise to
make the clergy less anxious in assisting to carry on the
work of education ; and he thought it due to the school•
master, in the laborious duties ho had to undertake, that
the government should assist in every way they could to
raise his social position.
The deputation then withdrew.

To the Right lion. the Lords of the Committee of Coun-
cil on Education. Tee liltinorial of the Muters and /dis-
tresses of Church Bclambi in England and Wales humbly
eheweth—

That the following memorial embodies the opinion of a
large number of teachers of church schools in England
and Wales, as to the operation of certain alterations in
the Minutes of Privy Council of 1847, respecting the
management of schools.
That the management of by far the larger number of pa-
rochial and national schools is virtually in the hands of the
clergy.
That your memorialists, having dm respect for the °Mee
of the clergyman as a minister of the church of Christ, do
not desire any arrangement which would interfere with the
influence he should possess in the education of the yore' of
his parish.
That her Majesty's Honourable Privy Council on Ede-
cation did, in June, 1847, set forth certain " management
clausal," whereby the management is vested in a commit-
tee, composed of the clergyman and a number of laymen ;
hat which provide that the clergyman should szerase no
power independently of the emporia' body.
That since the publication of thaw clauses very active
opposition has been made, with • view of obtaining for
the clergyman the entire control of the secular as well as
of the ahems instrue-ion of the schools.
That the Committee of Privy Council appointed by the
late government did yield to this opposition and alter the
clauses of 1547, so as to give the most absolute and arbi-
trary power to the clergyman, " should any difference arise
between Linz and the teacher on account of his or her un-
sound or defective teaching of the children, or on other
moral or religions grounds, without any appeal but to the
bishop ; and providing " that it shall be lawful for the
clergyman to suspend the teacher pending such reference as
aforesaid."

That your memorialists view with indignation and alarm
the provisions of the minute containing that alteration, in-
asmuch se any cause however trivial may be construed to
be a moral offence ; and the clergyman may forthwith sus-
pend the teacher from the exercise of his office; and they
believe, that w great an exercise of arbitrary power being
deputed to one class of her Majesty's subjects over another
is an act of injustice, and certain to evoke feelings of dis
trust, at the very least, between the clergyman and teacher.
That other consequences of the provisions of that minute
will be to degrade the teacher to a mere instrument of the
clergy,—to make it more uncertain than it now is the
situation he bibis„—ba exclude from the profession men of
educated naiad sod laling ;—and thus to defeat those bene-
ficial lIIISMINNO of dill Privy Council, which have hitherto
faded to Whom ass of superior attainments and aptitude
Ile eefieeledle Ibe dim of teacher, and so to Tali the cha-
ncier both of popular education sad of the schoolmaster.
That therefore your memorialists hops par lordships will
cause the minute of June 12, 1862, to be withdrawn, and
such other measures to be devised for their relief and secu-
rity, as in your lordships' wisdom shall swam It. And your
memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Signed, on behalf of the Metropolitan Committee,
Jetts H. HAY, Hoes. Soc.