The National Register.
London, England, 1821-02-05 00:00:00

No. 1,297.—V0r... XIV.]

EDUCATION BILL.
It is generally understood to be Mr. Botinham's
intention immediately to proceed with his Bill.for
the Education of the Poor. The Protestant Dis-
senters feel very warmly interested in favour of the
professed übject of this measure, yet view the means
y wok+ it is to be accomplished with corosiderable
alarm : they esa persuaded, on calm and deliberate
refiectioo, that the proposed plan is essentially de-
fective, and if adopted will retard rather than acce-
lerate the progress of education ; that it will be
highly injurious to the interests of religious free-
dom ; and, in its practical operation, prove to
thousands of oar fellow countrymen a source of bitter
It is the intention of these observations to show
that the prop seed enactment is greatly defective in
these important tiniturr•:—
Pirst—h has not sufficient regard to the advan-
tages which result from the co-openttion of the
public, or to the habits of those classes whom the
measure is intendisl to benefit, while it cannot fail
materially to injure the schools for the education of
the poor which are already in existence, and have
been productive of such important benefits to the
country at large.
Secondly—The Bill proposes means for the good
government of the schools, inadequate to the end,
and places great additional power in the bands of
the clergy and dignitaries of the church, while it
provides no adequate check on its abuse.
"And be it further enacted, by the authority
aforesaid, that the ordinary of any diocese wherein
any school to be provided under this act. either on
complaint or on application, shall be situated, may,
from time to time, as he shall sec tit, visit such
school either by himself in person, or by directing
the archdeacon of such diocese to visit the said
school, and may visit the said school within any
deanery in the s,id diocese, by directing the dean of
such deanery to visit the same: which atchtleacon,
chancellor, and dean, are hereby empowered and
required, when so directed by such ordinary, to hold
such visitation at the time or times by him specified;
and the ordinary so visiting in person, or the arch-
deacon, chancellor, or dean, so directed by him to
visit, shall have the power and authority to examine
all matters touching the said school, and the conduct
of the master thereof, and to rebuke and admonish
him according to his discretion ; and if he see cause,
to remove him from his office of master.

MR.

" And be it further enacted, that the rector,
vicar, perpetual curate, curate, or other minister of
any parish or chapelry, whether residing and dß-
elating or not, may at all times freely enter any
school provided under this act, either on complaint
or an application, within the same, or fur the use of
the same jointly with any other parish or chapelry,
and may examine the scholars attending the same,
touching their proficiency ; and may question the
master touching his government of the school, and
touching the proficiency of the children; and such
rector, vicar, perpetual curate, curate, or other mi-
nister, shall answer any inquiries directed to hin.
touching the said school, by, or by order of the or-
dinary of the diocese wherein such parish or
ehapelry is situated.
" And be it further enacted, that from and after
the passing of this act, all bishops anal archbishops
who are required by an act made in the tiirty-third
year of his lute Majesty, entitled an act to amend
the laws relating to spiritual persons holding of
farms, and fur eofi►rcing the resii:ence of spiritual
persons on their benefices in Englund ;' and by
another act made in the fifty-seventh year of his
late Majesty, entitled an act to consolidate and
amend the laws relating to spiritual persons holding
of tin ins, and for enforcing the residence of spiritual
persons on their benefices t and fur the support w►d
maintenance of stipend.ary curates in Englund;' to
make returns every year of matters connected with
the residence of .he clergy under their care ;' shall,
in audition to well returns, and in the body of the
tame, tnrther male a return yearly, specifying the
names of all schoolmasters in wily way appointed
under this act, within their care, together with the
number ofscholars taught by each, and the anitymit
of the sale of and average yearly emoluments received
by each such master; and shall add thereuntu such
remark. touching the said school and the eilu.inion
of youth generally, as may be from time to time