The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-24
English Education.

The Educational BILL which passed its Sec
ond reading in the Imperial Parliament on
Saturday, is conceived in liberal spirit, and
confers Just distinction upon Mr.. Foster by
whom it was brought forward. The general
plan of the bill may be stated in a few words.
England and Wales are already mapped out
into education districts, and whenever it is
shown that district has q reasonable amount
OF secular instruction, unfettered by any re-
ligious or other restrictions to which parents
can fairly object, the district will simply be
let alone. In future no school will receive q
Grant from public money unless it comes up
to the standard Of secular efficiency eSacted
by Parliament, is willing to submit to unde-
nominational inspection, and accepts con-
science clause. Where q district does not
answer these requirements, the voluntary
system will have two more chances. A re-
spite of year will be accorded, and if at
it's end the supply OF schools is still deficient,
the agencies designed for the provision OF
new schools will come into operation; but
it will be open to these agencies to meet the
wants of the district by assisting existing
schools, provided only that such assistance
shall be given to all schools imparsiaily.
The agencies above referred to are the School
Boards OF each district, which, in towns,
will be chosen by the Town Council. and in
the country by the vestry; and if the School
Boards fail to do their work, the government
declares them in default and does the work
for them. One-third of the total school ex-
penses will be raised by local taXes, one
third will be betrayed out OF the Paramen-
tary grant, and the remaining third from
school fees. Free tickets may be given to
individual parents as often rs the School
Boards think proper.
The religious difficulty is dealt with in this
wise. No school 1cM in future get any rs
SiStancc unlesS ii accepts tie Conscience
Clause. This clause cHempts scholars from
compulsory attendance, or abstinence from
attendance, at any Sunday school or place
of religious worship, and from being taught
any religious formulary, or icing present at
any lesson or instruction. to which the pa
rent, on religious grounds, may have objected
in writing. As regards new schools founded
by the School Boards, each Board will be
left free to settle the religious difficulty for
ITSELF The right of individual consciences
will be respected by the imposition OF the
Conscience Clause; but subject to this re-
striction, the elected representatives Of each
school district will be allowed to determine
what religion, or whether any religion, shall
be taught in the schools set up by them.
This last clause was objected to by Mr..
Bright, who preferred, as the telegrams re-
port, that there should be exact religious
equality. In other words, the government
proposed to allow child to be absent from
any religious teaching or worship to which
its parents objected, and Mr. Bright pro-
posed to have no teaching or worship at all
in connection with the school system This
last appears to be the simplest and safest
plan; but the views of the government pre-
vailed, Mr.. Bright withdrawing his amend
meut.
The last question relates to the means
provided for insuring the attendance of chill
dren. This is the principle of direct compul
sion of the parent. Every School Board
will have power to frame bylaws compelling
parents to send their children to school be-
tween the ages Of five and twelve, unless
tLey can plead reasonable excuse for keep
ing them away-such as that they are being
taught elsewhere, or that they are suffering
from sickness, or that there is no public ele-
mentary school within mile of the house.
The bylaws must be approved by the Gov
ernment and lie on the table of both Houscs
OF Parliament for a certain time before they
como into operation.
These then, are the chief provisions OF the
new bill:-l. There shall be enough schools
in each district to give q reasonable amount