The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-03 00:00:00

PRIMARY EDUCATION IN IRELAND

The report on Primary Education in Ireland, adopted
by the majority of the members of the Royal Commission,
have been published. Appended to it are a series of
one hundred and twenty-eight " conclusions and recom-
mendations contained in the general report." The
general report has been signed by all the commissioners
except three. Two of the commissioners who sign it
reserve objections as to particular propositions—Mr.
Justice Morris and Master Brooke. The three commis-
sioners who have dissented—D. Wilson and C. Gibson,
Q.C., Presbyterians, and Sir Robert Kane, Roman
Catholic, have prepared separate reports. The most
important of the recommendations contained in the
report, are stated as follows :—That it would be inex-
pedient to pass any law compelling attendance
at school in the country. That in towns it is de-
sirable that provision be made for the education at
the expense of the parents, if possible, or, if not, at
the expense of the community of all children who are of
school age and are not actually at work. That no child
should be considered as having made attendance, who has
not been present in the school during four hours of
secular instruction. That all children should either pay
themselves or be paid for ont of a public rate. That in
places where there is only one school, religious instruc-
tion shall be confined to fixed hours. (a.) No child
registered as a Protestant shall be present when religious
instruction is given by a Roman Catholic. No child registered
as a Roman Catholic shall be present when religious
instruction is given by a person who is not a Roman
Catholic. (b.) No child shall be allowed to join in or to
be present at any religious observances to which the
child's parents or guardians may object. (e.) The school
books shall be such as have been allowed by the National
Commissioners of Education for use in a mixed school.
That henceforth the distinction between convent schools
and ordinary schools should cease. That the rule
which prohibits the members of one religious com-
munity having more than one school is inexpedient, and
should be repealed. That the rule of the Irish Educa-
tion Board, prohibiting aid to monks' schools should
be repealed. That all teachers, religious as well as
lay, should give proof of their competence to teach before
they are entitled to class salary. That the teachers in
convent schools should be examined and classed like
other teachers. With reference to the maintenance of
the schools, the commissioners advise that the grant
made by the Commissioners of National Education
should bear a fixed proportion to the amount locally
contributed, and that the commissioners should main-
tain this rale in all places except those where they should
be satisfied that, after all due local exertion has been
-made, its application would close a necessary school.
That in default of voluntary local payments or school
fees, the requisite local contribution be raised by rate.
That if the principle of an educational rate be
adopted, such rate should be raised like the poor
rate, which is paid half by the owner and half by the
occupier. That where " local aid " falls below one-third of
the amount of the board's grant the board's payments
should be proportionately diminished, unless after report
of head and district inspectors the board judge an exception
necessary. That income arising from permanent endow-
ments should not be included under the term "local " aid for
the purpose of securing the full amount of Government aid.
That the local rate should not exceed 3d. in the pound.
That the amount raised by rate and local subscriptions,
together with the school fees, should reach one-fourth of
the total cost of the school. That rent and repair of
school-houses and teachers' residences should be a first
charge upon the education rate.