The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-01 00:00:00

_EVE KING -14/111TTO-I*.

NATIONAL EDiTCATION.

--....,.._
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir.--Permit me through the medium of your:widely
circulated Journal, to offer a few observations on the \
great question:of National Education, now pending, es-
-1 pecially respecting clerical opposition to the Govern-
i ment scheme for popular instruction. It seems that we
) can have no plan, properly speaking, national, on ac-
; count of Sectarian animosities. Surely modes and forms
k of faith should have no place in any system deserving
1 the name
..of " national." Its object should be to
communicate elementary knowledge to the youth of
I both sexes throughout the empire, otherwise destitute
of the means to obtain it. As regards religious instruc-
tion, there are certain fundamental principles on which
all are agreed, and which only should be inculcated ;
but beyond these religious instruction is utterly int-
' practicable. That a National System of Education
should .be of the most enlarged description possible.
Iwill be readily conceded ; and in order to bring it into
operation, the Bible, and all other religious books,
must be excluded from the public schools. There are innu-
merable Sunday schools for religious instruction, and the
proper means of imparting it ; if they be not sufficient
let the Church do the rest. The opposition of the
Clergy, to the Government scheme is, to say the least
of it, bigoted and stupid ; they have proved themselves i
inimical not only to the civil liberties, but also to the
moral and intellectual improvement of the nation, It
is undoubtedly the duty of the Government, to provide
for the people the means of instruction ; and it is also
certain, that the clergy have done nothing but perpetuate
popular ignorance. Their opposition to education is but the
revival of the worst form of Popish intolerance that ever
existed. The present Corporate body employed by the
State, viewed as a public means:of spreading knowledge, if
it was ever intended as such, has proved an entire failure.
According to a late report of the British and Foreign
School Society, out of 700 prisoners put upon trial, in
four counties, upwards of 260 were as ignorant as the
I savages of tho desert. Of the whole 700 only 150 could
write or even read with case. It cannot be denied that the
great mass of the people are in a state of the most de-
plorable ignorance, of " darkness visible," and for aught
the Clergy will do, the people will remain as ignorant
as ever. 01 our natiousi schools. under the control
of the Church, no condemnation can be too great. A
multitude of depraved boys and girls are collected toge-
ther in thin, who learn from oac another all kind of
wickedness ; and in consequence of the sys:em adopted
of their teaching one another, learn nothing else. It is
l well known by the conductors of private schools, that
boys sent to them, after having been some time at
a national school, are entirely corrupted am!
incapable of any improvement They are entirely
.un-
restrained by soy direct discipline in a national school.
The consequence is, that they become obdurate, ineniz
rieil)le dencee, hardened in depravity, and ready for
the perpetration of any crime. It is no uncommon
1, bring for bays to remain sev,lral years at a national
Ischool, aitbout hei11...1. able to read a word. A certain
jog-trot reutine is observed, which has something like
t the lona of edut:ttion, while :here is none in reality.
i 11i,, ~.,..• els of t:ie pr.:!scut :code of education in private
i scioloi.:, I shook! be OA to make the subject of another
eefeeseeleation, if this bc admitted into your columns.
Vet: re, &e. VERITIS.
, r‘Ve regret we eannot find room for the other cora-
-1 inttnicatien.)