The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-07
State Control OF Catholic Schools in
England.

England.
The publication Of DR.. BoUQUILLoN's
pamphlet on the relation OF the State to ed
ucation has not only excited vigorous
controversy among our Catholic fellow cit
liens. but it has called forth several inter-
esting statements Of fact which throw the
light Of precedent or analogy upon tho
question. Ono Of these appears in the Amer
lean Ecclesiastical ReuieW for February. and
defines tho situation Of Catholic elementary
schools in England and Wales.
The relation OF the State TO primary in
struction has not been uniform In all parts
of the United Kingdom. In Scotland there
has existed since 1896 legalized system Of
national elementary education. BY law
each parish was provided with primary
school at the expense OF the land owners.
who had to maintain 1t. and to partially
| provide for the teacher. who was allowed.
however. to charge small fee. Ireland
| also has had. since 1881. system Of ma
tional primary education: this Is IN unde-
nominatonal scheme thrust upon a peo-
pie. largo majority Of whom are Cath
| olics. and who desire schools in which their
| religion may DO taught. In England. on
| the other hand, it was not until 1870 that q
definite approach was made to national
| system Of elementary instruction. Until
| the passage Of the FORSTER act in that year,
| tho Government had never taken the init
alive in promoting primary education. 1t
only gave grants to those who did. no mat
ter who they We're or to what denomi nation
they belonged. provided always they could
show that they were accomplishing results
satisfactory to the Government inspectors
| A radical change was made by the Educa-
ton act of 1870, whose purpose was two
fold: First, to establish system Of purely
secular education. compulsory and practi-
cally free. through the creation OF multi
tude OF public elementary schools con-
trolled by school boards and supported by
the local rates. Secondly. to continue
State aid to schools under voluntary man.
agement. provided they would divest them
selves OF any purely UNCONVENTIONAL char
acter by accepting the so-called conscience
clause Of the act. This clause provided that
children OF any religion, or no religion.
should have the right Of admission to any
school. whether founded by Anglicans. Prot
estant Dissenters. or Catholics: that two
hours should be devoted to purely secular
instruction at each session OF the school.
and that the times during which religious
instruction should be given or religious
observances practised should be either at
the beginning or end OF the session. or at
both. and that any pupil might. at the
request Of his parents. be excused from
attendance at such times without forfeiting
any Of the other benefits Of the school. 1t
is obvious that this law was a compromise
between religion. as represented by the
voluntary school. and secularism. as repre-
sented by the board school.
The Catholics reluctantly accepted the
compromise. but the Nonconformists do
not seem inclined to permanently adhere to
it. They are champions of the board school
system. aud have set their hearts on max
ing this the exclusive instrument of na-
tional education. The Church of England
upon its part Is showing signs OF WEAKNESS
IN the struggle to compete with tho State
In the matter OF elementary instruction.
Its voluntary schools are now surpassed In
examination results by tho board schools,
and many OF them have already been turned
over to the school boards. The Catholic
voluntary schools. on the other hand. have
for the last twenty years kept ahead OF the
board schools and are still abreast OF them,
notwithstanding the latter's superior re-
sources. 1t should be understood that the
State aid granted to the Catholic. as well
as all other voluntary schools. comes In the
shape Of q grant from the Government,
which on the average attendance OF 1890
amounted to nearly four dollars and hall
per head. In addition to corresponding
grants from the imperial treasury. the
board schools receive several millions OF
pounds sterling annually from the local
rates. which contribute nothing toward the
maintenance OF the voluntary schools.
Such Is the actual situation. The volun-
tary schools are on trial. and 1t Is univer-
sally admitted that II the board schools
shall in tn" great majority OF cases surpass
the voluntary schools In secular efficiency.
the doom Of the voluntary school system
will DO sealed. We have seen that such a
state Of things already exists as regards
schools under Protestant management.
bit. ~ We hAvs said. the Catholic schools
\ huve TINA far ha1i thar nyyn and a. = ths