The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-12 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT EDUCATION BILL

The Manchester Guardian claims to have informa-
tion as to the provisions of the Government Educa-
tion Bill. If our contemporary is right, we shall
have a compromise. Neither the League no: the
Union schemes will be adopted in their entirety; the
measure will be drawn up somewhat on the plan of
the "➢Manchester Education Bill Committee."
Pure and simple compulsion is not pro-
vided—the Factory Acts will in effect be
extended to the whole community; but parents as
well as employers will be held responsible for the
possession of certificates of attendance at school. As
to religious instruction—that is to form no part of
the ordinary teaching; "means, however, will be
devised for satisfying the wishes of those who
desire that their children shall have more than
mere secular education." Into the religious
system, however, the Government will not
pry. Its inspectors will hold aloof entirely from the
subject of theological teaching, and will restrict
themselves to examining children in secular subjects.
Mr. Forster hopes this scheme will satisfy all parties.
It will hardly please those members of the Lower
House of Canterbury Convocation who on Thursday
demanded that religion should be " inculcated at
every pore."

THE EDUCATION UNION.

The education problem has been brought within
still narrower limits by an important modification of
the Union programme. At a very strong meeting of
the executive committee, attended by the Earl of
Ilarrowby and about a dozen M.P.'s, it was decided
to largely extend the original scheme. With respect
to the establishment of schools, it has been
resolved that, after due notice of accommodation
being needed in any district, the Government should
have authority to direct the erection and maintenance
of suitable schools, partly by Government grant and
partly at the expense of local rates, and to determine
the subjects to be taught. The managers are to
be appointed partly by the Government and partly by
local election. Contributors to existing. schools may
be relieved from rates to the extent of their contribu-
tions, but no further. The stipulations as to the
management of these establishments are highly impor-
tant. All elementary schools are to be under
Government inspection. Any parent or guardian may,
on giving personal or written notice, withdraw his
child from religious teaching. The provisions of the
Factory and Workshops Acts are to be extended, as
far as practicable, to all other branches of juvenile
labour. A certificate of satisfactory school attend-
ance is to be a condition of work for all children
under 13 years of age. In order to meet the case of
children of the pauperised and vagabond classes, Mr.
Evelyn Denison's Act (for the education of the chil-
dren of those receiving out-door relief), and the
Industrial' Schools Act, now permissive, must be
made compulsory. Payment of school fees will be
insisted upon.

, Ism AYBTON.
Mr. Ayrton, the new First Commissioner of Works,
and Mr. Barry, the architect of the4louses of Parlia-
ment, are said to have quarrelled. Some unpleasant-
ness about expenditure and necessary improvements
are stated to have arisen, with the result that Mr.
Barry has resigned his position. The Echo says Mr.
Ayrton has informed Mr. Barry that in consequence
of the new arrangements made for the conduct of the
business of the Board of Works, the Houses of Par-
liament will be placed under the care of the officers
of the department, and the estimates for works be
prepared by them.