New-York tribune., 1876-12-22

COMPULSORY EDUCATION IN ENGLAND.
The fact that the Compulsory Education act
goes into effect in England on the first OF
January next has given great interest to the
School Board elections this year. The sup
porters of the old OF denominational system,
which has been long established look with
alarm upon the increase of the Board Schools
in the cities and large towns. The latter are
supported by parish rates, the former from
fees supplemented by Government subsidies.
Practically, however, the Board Schools are
favored by Dissenters, aud the denOminational
by the bishops and clergy of the Church OF
England. The contest between the two sys-
TENS of education has taken its place as
phase of the old conflict between Conformity
and Nonconformity.
I'm the cities of the North of England, where
Dissent is strong, the Liberals have, In the
main. secured control of the school boards.
In Leeds the new board will consist OF nine
Liberals and six Conservatives; in Bradford
the Liberals secured, after severe struggle,
eight members out of ffteen in Sheffield the
hoard numbers eleven Liberals to four Conser-
vatiyes. 1t is noticeable that III these cleo
tions the English Catholics vote against the
denominatiOnal system. In Nottingham q
Catholic canon stood ut the head OF the poll;
in Leeds two Catholics were elected as LiDer-
ais, All doctrinal opinions from Roman CathOl-
icism TO radical Professionalism are represented
IN the opposition to the denominatiOnal sys-
TEN. The extent to which that system has
Injured to the advantage of the Established
Church is the explanation of the union OF ele-
ments otherwise incOngruous.
But London has been this year the chief
hattie ground. There the School Board has
been extending its work at rapid rate. 1t
has numbered among ITS members such men
as Lord Lawrence, Mr. Huxley, Sir Charles
Reed, Mr.. Mundella, Mr.. Samuel Morley, and
Prof Gladstone. Even the denomination
alists have felt the impulse given by the
board to elementary education, for their
schools in London now have 10000 more
scholars than when the board was first estab-
lshed. They still have the numerical ascend
ency they provide education for 257,OOo
children. while the board schools enroll no
more than $4,000 pupils They are, how
ever hostile to the rapid growth of the
boards system of educational work, and at
the election held on Nov. 80 made strenuous
effort TO obtain control of the London board
Among the candidates in some of the metro
poltan parishes were Ladies'. who at the pub
lie meetings took the platform and explained
the issues with an intelligence and force which
left nothing to be desired
The Compulsory Education law, now about to
90 into operation, aims TO secure elementary
instruction to every child in England. It pro-
yides, in each school district where there is no
board. for the election of a "SchOOl Attend
"ancc Committee" Upon the complaint of
this committee or OF school board, any court
of summary jurisdiction may order child,
whose education is neglected, to be sent to
some Certified SCHOOL, The parents have,
in such case, the option of selecting
any school supported by Government aid
that they prefer. If the order of the court is
disobeyed, the child may be sent to an indus
trial school. Dissenters see i'll this act great
advantages put into the hands of the Established
Church. As the church schools outnumber the
board schools, compulsiOn will obviously send
great numbers of pupils to the former This
is, however, a matter of detail with which we,
at our distance, have nothing to do. The i'm
portant fact remains that, with the beginning
of the new year, England enters upon the
serious task of educating every child of school
age. 1t may be that in the universal enforce
ment of compulsory education, we shall find
ourselves outstripped by our mother country.