Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-09
Public Education In England.

Up to the present time the free school
system has not made such progress in
England as to Justify the ardent expcc-
tations of its more sanguine adherents,
but the movement TO make the schools
absolutely free, to rich and poor alike,
is being steadily pushed forward and
doubtless its object will be realized at
no distant day. The great obstacle in
the way Of such q public school system
in England as We have in this country
is the union of church and state.
Whenever disestablishmert shall be
effected, as it certainly in time
will be, the schools Of England will
be freed from church influence,
but until then it is to be expected that
there will continue to be q larger at
tendance at the church schools than
at those Of the educational board, which
represent the free system as far as it
has advanced in England.
A report Of the educational commits
sion, recently published, shows that in
England and Wales over two million
pupils attend the nearly fifteen thous-
and religious or voluntary schools con-
Quoted by the church, while the num-
Der Of board schools is less than forty
five hundred, attended by but one
million three hundred thousand schol-
ars. 1t is thus shown that the
church still controls the education of
nearly two-thirdS of the school children
| and has in it's direct charge more than
| three times as many schools as the
| board. 1t is an interesting fact, how
! ever, that the students OF the board
| schools attain higher proficiency in
their studies than those OF the church
| institutions, which is ample evidence
| that the board schools will eventually
! have the field TO themselves. The Eng
lish people are proverbially slow to en-
brace Innovations, but they are sure to
do the proper thing when it is once
made clear to their understanding. The
free school party is doing etfec-
tive work in continually agitating
the subject, and there Gun be no doubt
of the final result, though it may not be
reached for generation yet.
But even the so-called free schools in
England are not such in the sense in
which the phrase is employed in the
UNITED States. Each scholar is required
to pay a rate of two pence per week for
the privilege OF attending school, if not
too poor to do SO, The two pence goes
toward the support OF the schools, and
amounts TO considerable sum in the
course of the year. lt is one OF the chic
aims OF the free school party TO abolish
this tax altogether and make the schools
entirely free, as they are in this country
placing the burden of their supper
wholly on the government. Another
object is to secure free text books for al
children whose parents are too poor Il
buy them, aud the more radical Of th'
free school party propose To furnish th'
scholars free lunch, aproDosition tina
appears absurd, but is really not so wil'
when it is understood that attendanc,
at the schools is compulsory in Englan'
and many children are compelled 10 2,
without the midday meal because thei
parents are too poor to furnish it, ph'
first essential thing TO be accomplished
however, is disestablishment, anu whel
that is achieved other objects neces
sary TO give England free schools in fac
will be comparatively easy OF attain
| mani