The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-17 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JAN. 17, 1868.

The Educational Conference at Manchester has
completed its labours, and we may fairly say that
it has been successful for the present in the attempt
to put the question before the public in a clearer
form than misrepresentation has hitherto allowed it
to appear. Some important sections of the subject
were discussed towards the conclusion of the Con-
ference, and the report of the observations made
will be interesting to those who are concerned in
the solution of the problem. Rural Districts was
the third point put for Ward for discussion, and con-
cerning this the Rev. Canon ROBINSON explained
how these rural districts were varied in their cha-
racteristics. One class was concentrated in its po-
pulation, and eager to secure a good school. As
things stand at present another contained a poor
and numerous population, and education
especially required, but greatly neglected. A
third division comprises those districts where the
parishes are numerous and small, and the people
scattered about the land. No doubt there is
great truth in the opinion expressed, to the effect
that two things are requisite for the more effectual
working of small schools in the rural districts—
relaxation in the rules of the Committee of
Council, and also increased grants in some cases.
Sonic of the proposals made to remedy those evils
might doubtless answer the desired end, if they
could be carried into execution ; but it is to be feared
that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to do
so. As for the poorer districts being assisted by
the richer ones, as it was said during the discussion,
the same principle is carried out in other
things, such as road-making. Secular schools
likewise engaged attention, and this is a most
difficult part of the auestion. It is all very well
to say, as some of its advocates did, at this Con-
ference, that " efficient secular instruction ought to
be the sole criterion of State aid," and that reli-
gious instruction must depend mainly upon home
influence ; but those who know the habits of the
poor intimately, know also that there is a deficiency
of time, inclination, and often even of capability on
the part of the parents, to impart such instruction
themselves, and it seems very unsuitable for the
State to come forward and neglect the most im-
portant part of education in its efforts to benefit
the children concerned. The danger of establishing
secular schools will be that it is sanctioning education
without religion, and that is a wrong principle to
establish. To this, as to other awkward points, the
House of Commons will no doubt devote its time
and thought, and seek to arrive at the wisest and
safest conclusion.

At the resumption of the Conference yesterday
Mr. FORSTER made a speech, in the course of which
he very sensibly remarked that "nothing would give
him so much pleasure as to find the question taken
out of their hands, and brought in by the Govern-
ment, who had advantages for carrying on adminis-
trative measures of the kind which no private
member could possibly have." Jldr. FORSTER is an
advocate of the compulsory system, and disposes
of the objection that it is un-English by
declaring that, indirectly, such has been our
custom for years past. The case of the factories
is not, however, quite the same, because the children
employed there are peculiarly circumstanced, and
special regulations have to be made regarding their
work. Great temptations are put in the way of the
parents in these districts, and it is very needful that
due restrictions should be interposed for the protec-
tion of the young from the cupidity of their natural
guardians, and the indifference or greediness of
their employers. To adopt the system over all the
country would be quite another thing. Mr. Foßa-
TER'S observation upon the inspections of schools are
well worth noticing, and it would be well if his
notion was carried out of making the duty devolve
upon gentlemen specially appointed for the pur-
pose. We agree also with his remarks about the
ivadvisibility of making it a condition of work
under thirteen years of age that a child can read
or write ; it is far better to make the permission
dependent upon its being sent to school, for other-
wise by turning children into the streets they may
become vagrants, and finally criminals.
Industrial Schools and Factory Acts were also
considered, and their operation was inquired into,
and the desirability of extending the Factory Act
also taken into account. Considerable difficulty
arose in this part of the discussion upon the re-
lative merits of the compulsory system, and Mr.
BRUCE was against it, saying that he had under-
taken to introduce the bill of last session
on condition of the " compulsory clauses"
being withdrawn. The gentlemen forming the
commission to inquire into the school systems of
I'russia and Switzerland have reported that the
compulsory plan there is practically inoperative.
As Mr. BRUCE very forcibly put it, under the best
system possible we might go every day to the
school and find fifty per cent. absent; and, there-
fore, the question was " whether it would be desir-
able that fifty per cent. of the population should be
brought under the visitation of the law, as they
must be under such circumstances." It is, in-
deed, no matter of surprise that the subject
of education has been practically neglected
for so long a time when we call to
mind the great difficulties that lie in the way of its
settlement, and the various objections that spring
up directly any plan or scheme is proposed ; but
the time has gone by when the question can be any
longer disregarded, and the inewLers of the Legis-
lature must set to work earnestly to get rid of the
obstacles as welt as they can. One thing is certain
that no good can 1..),! done by losing any more time,
while many and important advantages are to be
derived from rendering a general system of good
elucation over the country; more a fact than a
fiction.

SAdom have we had to record so many and
such various complaints of poverty, distress, and
scarcity. The condition of our East-end parishes
is one of the topics of the day. Every one is