New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-23
FREE SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND.

With the bringing forward of the Elementary
Education bill in the House Of Commons yes1er-
day the British Government stands pledged 10
the most important advance in public lnstruc-
ton that has been made in twenty years Ana
that the bill will speedily be adopted, and VIII
% into force as proposed on September l next
is not to be doubted. 1t is Government meas
IRE. and therefore must be supported by the
Conservatives. But in spirit 1t Is Lioerai
measure, in harmony with the principles OF the
Liberal party, and therefore cannot be opposed
with good grace by Mr.. Gladstones followers
Indeed, in this day of the common people III
England no man who values his political tuere
will rashly set himself against bill so evidently
calculated to benefit the masses of the public.
Il was only as late as 1870 that the Govern
ment began to exercise systematic control over
public instruction in England. The Elementary
Education Act of that year gave to the nation
unsectarian schools, attendance at which was
compulsory on all children between five and
thirteen years of age, and in which it WAS obi
gatory that sufficient accommodation be pro-
yided for all entitled to attend. But the
schools were not free. A small fee was i'm
posed upon each scholar, which the School
Board might remit in special cases, but which
was. of course, generally exacted, often to the
distress of parents whose children were many
and whose income was small This act was
amended in 1873, in 1876, and in 1880, in
minor details but not until now has it been
proposed to effect such a radical change as the
abolition of fees.
The present measure provides that there shall
he paid out of the National Treasury fee
grant, in aid of elementary education at the
rate of 10 shillings-or 50 50-a year for each
child between five and fourteen years OF age
in average attendance at any public day school
In the generality of schools all fees from schol-
ars are to be abolished. In few special cases,
however, it will still be lawful to exact such
fees not exceeding IL cents week for each
child and for children under five and over
fourteen years old fees not exceeding 4 and
cents each per week, respectively, may be
charged. The practical result will be such
ystem of free education in England and Wales
rs Scotland since 1889 already enjoys. The
expense to the Government will be consider
able-S1O c, 5000 a year. Mr.. Goschen has
estimated it. There were in 1889 no less than
1870 schools in England and Wales, with
accommodations for 5,440,441 scholars, and an
average attendance OF 3,6S2,625. AT 81 90
per capita, according to those returns, the " fee
grant would need to be more than S9,2OO,OOO
year.
There can be no question as to the immense
benefits this measure will confer upon the peo-
pie especially upon the poorer laboring classes
The average fee exacted under the existing Sys-
tenn may not be more than 81 so or 81 year
for each child; but even that is grleyous
burden to a man who has several children OF
school age, and whose sole income is the beg
carly pittance Of an English workingman. And
| by no means the least benefit bestowed by this
act will be the dissertation of pauperism from
education, and the placing of the poor and the
wel-to-do OIL an equality in the common school,
It will be a great gain for popular learning,
but perhaps a greater one for popular manhood
and independence of spirit.