The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-08 00:00:00

SECULAR INSTRUCTION,

ANALYSIS OF THE BILL TO ESTABLISH
FREE SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND AND WALES,
FOR SECULAR INSTRUCTION, AS PRO-
POSED BY THE NATIONAL PUBLIC
SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
Clause 1 gives a title to the Bill, as " The National
School Act, 1852."
Clause 2 to 5 inclusive, provide a " Board of Educa-
tion" under the Crown, to be composed of three persons,
the two junior members being ineligible for Parliament;
they are to obtain from time to time, information of the
educational state of this and other countries, and to re-
port annually to Parliament, through the Secretary of
State for the Home Department, and they are also to
carry this Act into execution. The salaries of the
members of the Board are left to be filled in by Parlia-
ment.
Clause 6 prescribes the mode of action to be adopted
by the Board. They or their Inspectors are to visit such
places as shall by them be deemed necessary, or where
invited by a memorial from a majority of the ratepayers,
to constitute " School Districts," which may be com-
posed of a city, borough, parish, or any other existing
boundary, or a part of or a combination of the same; the
creation of every such district to be advertised in the
London Gazette. But a majority of the ratepayers of
any such district memorialising against it, will prevent
the Act taking effect for two years after any such
memorial.
Clauses 7 and 8 provide for the election of a School
Committee, out of the ratepayers of each district, to be
chosen after the manner of the poor-law guardians, ex-
cept that every ratepayer will have a vote, and no rate-
payer more than one vote; one half of the Committee to
retire each year, eligible, however, to re-election. Clause
9 makes the Committee a corporation capable of ac-
quiring and holding property.
Clauses 10, 11, and 12, give the committee power to
hire or purchase existing school-rooms, reserving the
right of existing trustees to their use for purposes of re-
ligious instruction, when not in use for secular instruc-
tion under the Act; power to purchase land, and to
erect new school-rooms, teachers' dwellings, &c., to be
paid for in one year, or spread over twenty years.
Clause 13 gives power to appoint a treasurer and se-
cretary.
Clauses 14 and 15 provide for the establishment of
four classes of schools, viz., infant, day, evening, and
industrial schools, with right of free admission to all,
under certain restrictions to ensure order and 'system.
Thus in cases of crime and gross insubordination, the
committee have power to refuse admission, and admis-
sion to the industrial schools is to be by order of a ma-
gistrate.
Clause 16 enacts that neither doctrinal religion, nor
anything in favour of or opposed to the peculiar tenets
of any sect of Christians, shall be taught or enforced in
any of the schools, and it gives a power of appeal against
any breach of this rule.
Clauses 17 and 18 give power to appoint and remove
masters and teachers, to select school books, and to pre-
scribe courses of instruction; to appoint visitors to com-
municate with apathetic parents, so as to induce a ge-
neral compliance with the system.
Clauses 19, 20, and 21 provide for the sustentation of
existing schools under their present managers, on con-
dition of their conforming to the terms of the Act with
regard to doctrinal religion, so that dissentients from
their creed may attend the schools without violation of
conscience.
Clause 22 excludes ministers of religion from sa-
laried offices.
Clauses 23 'and 24 provides for raising school rates
after the manner of poor-rates for the support of the
schools to be set up or maintained, and with like
powers of appeal.
Clauses 25 and 26 provide for the annual publication
of accounts, and for reports to the Board of Education,
by district school committees, and trustees in union.
Clauses 27 and 28 provide for the appointment of ho-
norary examiners, who, in conjunction with inspectors
appointed by the Board of Education, are to hold sit-
tings in each county, for the examination of masters and
teachers, to whom they are to give or refuse certificates.
Clauses 29 and 30 enact that the Board shall esta-
blish and support normal schools for the training of
teachers, such schools being subject to the same rules
with regard to the teaching of doctrinal religion as the
day schools ; and school committees are to have power
to assist meritorious pupils in their expenses at the nor-
mal schools, and to present them from their own
districts.
Clauses 31 and 32 provide for the appointment of in-
spectors by the Board of Education, whose expenses,
together with those of the honorary examiners, and of
the normal schools, are to be paid out of the Consoli-
dated Fund.
Clause 33 provides that the Act maybe amended
this session.