The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-02

WHICH mNkea tu6 COInI1Ou 6CuOOtb VI GuRthuu
inferior in every respect to those of Germany
where the Government makes education COM
pulsory, and those of the United States, where
public opinion, more positive though less
arbitrary agency than the Prussian police,
enforces it. English statesmen,'if not Eng
lish churchmen, beginto recognize at last that
their common schools compare uufavorably
with those of every nation which we are ac-
customed to consider civilized and enlight-
ened, and that it is religious disputes, or, as
they mildly put it, "a religious difficulty,
which first created the fault and which now
makes it next to impossible to eradicate it.
The English common schools are organized
something after the plan of the American
Sabbath-schools, and are very little superior
to them. Like these, they are neither secular
flesh nor religious fowl, and impart thorough
training neither in morals nor mathematics.
Established and sustained in both cases by
rival sects, they are most numerous in edu-
Gated and moral communities, and do not
exist at all where vice and ignorance most
prevail, unless private philanthropists happen
also to exist there in more than average num-
bers. The tutors employed under both sys-
TENS are selected at random, often without
inquiry as to their moral character, and
generally without regard to their qualifica-
tions as teachers. 1t is enough if they belong
to the right church or the only true sect. The
under both systems, to the selection of the
unframed tutors, and naturally it is seldom
profound or practical, and not always moral
There is no inspection, no examination, no
supervision maintained by churches or State,
and the direction of the schools is confided to
parsons too busy to attend them, or to dea-
cons without other qualifications than reli-
gious zeal for the discharge of duties which
under every other school system are rightly
1,o1,o Ia
culture and secular instruction are mingled in
disproportioned quantities, there being of en-
too much shorter catechism mixed with too
little rule Of three, resulting in a
compound which nauseates the
youthful stomach and turns the
bitter-sweets of school-days into gall aud
wormwood, that is never forgotten. The
system of procuring pupils in each case is as
pernicious as that of employing teachers.
Children are solicited to attend as a favor to
the school rather than as an advantage to
themselves, and too often their continued at
tendance depends on the good conduct of the
tutors in not offending the parents or chill
dren rather than on the behavior of the
pupils in not offending the tutors. In both
the voluntary principle" is carried to excess.
In both the religious difficulty'-too Jealous
sectarianism-besides these results, leads
naturally to proselytizing, and the building
up of the influence of one sect on the ruins
of another AS a rule, there is more Joy over
the one ungodly Dissenter that repents and
secedes, and enters into the Established
Church, than in the ninety-nine dirty little
vagabonds picked up by some foolish old
philanthropist groping in dismal, out-of-the-
way districts, and impressed with the idea
that there is certain power and unlimited
loaves of bread in practical knowledge.
The one point of divergence between the
American Sabbath-schools with slight secu-
lar branches) and the English common
schools with numerous religious classes), is
that the latter receive Government aid. But
with that blindness which frequently charac-
terizes English philanthropic aud reformatory
schemes, the British government has made it
rule to grant aid only to the established
schools. 1t does not strive to build up any,
1t gives to those districts which have and
denies to those which have not, thus exempli-
flying rule of Holy Writ which we do not
imagine the Master designed should have
such false application. This system of min
gled religious and secular training and of vo-
luntary attendance has resulted, after long
time of thorough trial, in leaving 1000, 900 of
population of 1900, 900 children without
schools or instruction of any sort, and as a
necessary consequence in making one-tenth
of the entire population of England actual
paupers and criminals.
This failure has had no other notable effect.
1t has disgusted the social economists with
the voluntary principle in education, and
from all parts of England and Wales Com
mittees and Leagues and Unions and local
associations of every kind are in Downing
street to urge the compulsory system on the
Government and Parliament The Educa-
tion bill of Mr.. Forster, which is now under
debate in the Commons, contains one clear
and important provision requiring the
parents of children above the age of five
years and under the age of twelve years to
cause such children (unless there is some
reasonable excuse) to attend school" This
clause will doubtless prevail, and that is all
that can be hoped for The real trouble, the
religious difficulty" which is the principal
cause of the failure of the school system,
will hardly be touched Mr. Gladstone lately
made a speech in support of an amendment
to the bill which prescribed that in schools
hereafter to be established no catechism OF
religious formula which is distinctive of any
I particular denomination shall be taught. This
raised such storm of opposition as indicates
it cannot be supported, and there remains nc
hope that the separation of secular and reli
gious instruction will be at present attained
The debate has, however, been educationa
in character, and will help to awaken the
people of England to a comprehension of the
religious difficulty" which in making theil
schools defective also makes their children
the victims of their own religious disputes
and differences.
DEFEAT OF THE DOMINICAN TREATY
! From the N. y Sun
-, II