The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-09 00:00:00

EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND.

The LORD-ADVOGATE, in moving Or leave to bring
in a bill to regulite and make further provision for paro-
chial schools in Scotland, also a bill to make provision for
education within burghs in Scotland, referred to the un-
successful result of the contest which took place on this
subject last session. The bill he then introduced was sup-
ported by a majority of both the English and Scotch mem-
bers; but it was thrown out in another place. That bill
gave a better prospect of restoring the old character of
Scotland as one of the'best-educated countries in Europe
than any other measure that had been proposed. Though
his opinion was certainly unchanged, it did not follow that
he and those who thought with him should, year after
year, renew this kind of conflict, oven though they were
sure of victory in the end. It was one thing to see what
was beet to be done—another to consider what could be
done ; and while he would not surrender any of the gene-
nil principles affirmed by the house last session, on
the other hand, he was desirous of seeing whether, by
subdividing tife question and trying to do by detail what
he had failed to do in the aggregate, be inieht not, at all
events, 'do something to improve the state of education in
Scotland. He should be unworthy the cause if he allowed
former disappointments to ielax his exertions. It had
been said by Sir J. Pakington that education was now
taken out of the category of party questions. He was glad
to hear that, because '25 years ago it was never treated
otherwise. He thought ho was entitled to appeal to the
other side of the house—he did not say to support these
bills, or any part of them with which they did not agree
in spirit—but he was entitled to ask, if the principle of
the measures should be affirmed by the house, that they
should not have the contest protracted, day after day, on
every clause of the bills, but that they should give to the
details a fair and candid consideration. The question di-
vided itself into two branches, as his notice indicated ; but
he should say it divided itself into three. He proposed to
deal in these bills, first, with parish schools; secondly, with
education in boroughs; and beyond that, he meant to indicate
a measure of larger extent, to fill up what he thought the
manifest deficiency which these two measures would leave.
In appr caching the question of parish schools he laid it
down as a principle that it was impossible longer to main-
tain the exclusive character of these schools. (Hear.) That
the house had declared over and over again ; they had
divided upon that over and over again, and always with
the sense result. He was certain the house would agree
that it was impossible to deal, under any circumstances,
with parish schools, and leave the exclusive test as it was.
(Hear.) That was the principle which had raised the chief
obstacle ; they must clear the question as to exclusive tests
from their path, and the sooner it was brought to an issue
the better. It was not a matter on which it was possible
to ask the house to change its opinion. The test was a
thing indefensible LI itself ; and, excepting a few enthu-
siastic people, who thought more of their own parish dis-
putes than of the state of the country or the good of the
people, it was not maintained or defended, as far as'he was
aware, by any persons of any opinion or profession. Ac-
cordingly, his bill would abolish—he trusted for ever—that
exclusive to-t. When they knew that there were palish
schools deserted on this ground, it was impossible longer to
in intain it. Anxious as hew Ito clear away these obstruc-
tions, he not wish to make a greater inroad on the ex-
isting parish schools than the exigency of the occasion re-
quired. Last year he proposed to bring all these schools
under one management. He now proposed to let the man-
agement remain in the minister and presbytery ; but be
would abolish the right of. the presbytery to try offences.
As to moral offences, he would retain the right of the pres-
bytery to try and punish them. The jurisdiction over school-
masters which the presbytery had hithi rta exercised was not
one that aided to their dignity or their usefulness. From
the decision of the presbytery on moral offences he would
give an appeal to the sheriff's depute; but for serious
offences the presbytery would have the right to remove the
roaster at once. As to the examination of schoolmasters, he
would abolish the examination by the presbytery where a
master was chosen who did not belong to the established
Church ; in other cases the examination by the presbytery
would take place. Provision was also made for an inspec-
tion of the schools by a Government inspector. By clear-
ing away the exclusive tests in parish schools, they
would tend to liberalise the education generally. By the
second bill be proposed to give the town councils in burghs
the unrestricted power of assessing themselves, for the
establishment of schools. When a town council resolved
to take this step, it would not be carried out until after
the election-of a new council—two months' notice being
thus given of the proceeding. In parochial schools, the
salaries of the schoolmasters would not be paid by Govern-
ment grants, but by rates on the heritors ; and it was pro-
posed to increase those salaries. Had the existing system
been swept away, and a national one proposed, it would
have been proper for the Government to grant some aid;
but there was no such provision in the bill he proposed.
He would not stop short at parish and burgh schools.
A. representation from Glasgow, signed by then of all
sects and' parties, had recently been addressed to the
noble lord at the head of the Government, stating that the
means of education were inadequate, and praying that
steps might he taken for their improvement. If these bills
were favourably received by the house, he should be pre-
pared to submit a scheme for the further extension of
schools. He did not propose any further interference with
the management, but he would place the schools to be so
established under Government inspection. Assuming that
there would soon be a minister of education, these schools
would be under his control. Either they must leave the
schools without control, or they must have control in
Edinburgh or London. He should not propose to have a
board in Scotland, but to hppoint inspectors who should
report to the responsible minister of education as to the
state of existing schools, and the necessity for new ones.
Six months after the report that the schools were
needed in any district, a rate should be ordered far
their establishment, general orders should be drawn up
for their regulation, and grants would be made by the
Privy Council. At present he confined his motion
to the parochial and burgh schools, thinking it better to
defer the larger measure till after the discussion of Lord
John Russell's resolutions. The learned lord again referred
to the impossibility of maintaining the exclusive character
of the parish schools. Were that obstacle once got rid of,
those who now differed on the subject of education would
be able unitedly to address themselves to thiti great work.
Mr. BAXTER had felt a good deal disappointed by the
statement of the learned lord. It showed that the spirit of
mutual concession had not yet made much pregress. He
was convinced that the existing differences were far more
in words than in reality. (Hear hear.) If the supporters
of the Establishment and Dissenters would lose sight of
polemical questions, the difficulties, which existed only in
the minds of learned doctors, would speedily vanish. He
should like to see gentlemen on both sides uniting to
give Scotland a good and useful bill. Although the bill
did not come up to his views, as a Dissenter, be was willing
to accept of it as a cempromiee. He thought that the whole
parochial system in Scotland must be changed, but he
would not wish to see it changed for a denominational
one. The present bill proposed to get rid of the religious
test—a principle which had been already recognised as to
the universities. The bill allowed the parishes to tax
themselves; but he confessed—high an opinion as he had
of the Scotch people—he doubted whether they were suffi-
ciently advanced to set the proper value on good schools.
He thought the bill would prove the miserable inefficiency
of many who set up schools. He hoped the bill would be
received in a kind and fair spirit on both rides of the house.
Mr. BLACK, having been for a long time in connection
with persons who took the deepest interest in this question,
thought that he was competent to state what they con-
sidered were the priuciples upon which a national system
of education should be established. Such a system ought
not to be exclusive, but free—not sectarian, but open. The
parent was the person responsible for the education of his
child, atll especially for the religious instruc ion which it
received ; and although the parish school system of Scot-
land, as well as the schools them elves, had been greatly
eulogised, it must not be forgotten that those who praised
them drew their impressions from a distant period, while
that system was in its vigour and purity. Those hon.
gentlemen forgot that as years had flown by a great change
bad come over the constitution of those schools, and they
were pot now in the condition which they were when they
elicited the praises; of the country. At one time they were
in fact almost national, the great body of the people were
members of that church the doctrines of which they taught,
but the growth of sectarianism in Scotland had been so