New-York tribune., 1895-10-13
ENGIfIH SCHOOLS.
CARDINAL vAUGHANS PKOro'A"'
UNITED ACTION RESPECTING DE-
CONVENTIONAL. EDUCATION.

London. Octoper .
us,. over voluntary schools ana
State aid for denomnatonal educa''oh "",
come definite and ntelgible TINS "eeh. 49,.
$3.50, In q letter 10 The Times. mas pro
ro..a common basis OF action on the par' Vi
churchmen. Roman Catholics ana "e'
who are interested in the maintenance an"
velopment Of sectaran schools. since !. "
,r.sh,ng in the inclement heat of a tropical au-
tumn In London to use an Aro'ic s"''''e' ,..
y. ae.cr,bed as a lead Of open water suddenly
opened In the drift ice OF barren c'"''
which has been in progress for many months.
r.,. ...ro,orsv has been the logical result OF
the COMPROMISE measure which was paSseu "
zen IN, tho fret Gladstone Government. A"o"s
81. great reform. undertaken by that powerful
Ministry with an overwhelming ma)ori'! pe"'"'
=, ua. tho reorganization OF the school system
Eng,and VA. then far behind other progressive
oour,r,es IN the facilities offered for elemeh'ai!
aducation There was network OF pai'''.
schools under the management ana co".'0'
the English Church. and there were aiSo "o"'''
Catholic Wesleyan and oiher ue"o''"a0"
schools in every section OF the country ou' M
was no uniform system Of educating the oI,''Di'
~ the masses al public expense MI r'''
started out not perhaps with ufasuc p' p''
~ a,spensng with Bible reading ana rehe'ou'
instruction. but certainly with comprehe"si'e
scheme for the creation OF local scnooi oo"N'
which were TO be armed with power 10 eh'oioe
the education Of all children between the ages VI
FIVE and twelve.
The resistance OF the English Church anu VI
the patrons OF all existing denominauohai s''''''
was at once encountered The Gladstone uo'e
ment shrank from identifying itself WIN '"'
,col system OF compulsory education. Mr. Forster
mi
,s,,rg schools might receive a restricted measure
of state support. v they should submit u se'"
,ar ,rsnec,ion and reach a certain standard oil
efficiency He was at once denounced az "'"r
n,s," hv the Nonconformists. and the support oi
a nowerful section Of the liberal party was ''i', ~
norsr,,v arenated: but the bill was passed with
What was known as the conscience CLAUSE D'
which every voluntary school receiving Govern
.. .,a was compelled to allow pupils to ao-
sent themselves at the request OF their parents
- o,.or,, form, of religious instruction. the
COMPROMISE created a dual system OF educa''o"
4, En,,and and Wales: the new board schoois
. . FREQ ba sis wherever introduced by the io0"i
au,horities at the expense of rate-payers' anu
,n. voluntary schools already in existence anu
o-nacia,Iv affiliated with the general system
1,h. ueasure was enacted with timely support Ill
cr,tical divisions from the Conservative opposT
,,on which was hostile to any scheme OF euu0a
,ion that did not include religious lnstfueuo"'
rrPEcrs OF THE EDUCATION ACT.
Tho rducat,on act. although an artificial com
promise between secular and denohl'ia' ''o""'
schools ia one Of the landmarks OF progress Ill
ENGLAND during the Victorian age. Under II
.chools ba % been multiplied and elementary edu-
cation has been brought within the reach OF the
,oorast children Eminent men like PROFESSOR
uuxIev set the example Of serving on the ne"
school boards the same influential classes "h'e"
have kept the management OF local government
IN their own hands int ,rested themselves Ill euu-
cational reforms: women were adm''eo u mem
bership In the district boards ana the general
system was rapidly enlarged and its emciehVs
steadily increased SO great was the zeai VI '"e
boards that the original character OF these ere
mentary schools was changed, ana hsnei
branches OF instruction were INTRODUCED Inc
buildings were enlarged and improved expensive
Iaystories were added in many instances anu
much attention was paid to ventilation and to the
Yards and surroundings Year at'er year '"e
scboo, expenditures mounted higher and higher
and formed a considerable portion OF local TAXA
tion Meanwhile the voluntary or denomina-
,,ona, schools were struggling TO keep abreast
with their rivals The buildings in many In
stances were old and in need Of repair; there
WAS no money for improvements. the funds Tor
maintenance were uncertain and often made
ouate and the provisions OF the Education ACT
we're fraouently, enforced In a vexatious ana
harassing way.
The Minister Of Education. through the exercise
Of his discretionary powers, IAN modify reguia-
tions and subject the voluntary schoos 10 rigorous
tests by which they may be deprived OF con-
siderable portion Of the State aid fat Is doled Out
TO them There was a general complaint during
the last Admnstratio that Mr.. Acland was ex-
ceedingy harsh and rigid In his dealings WIN
voluntary schools. The inspection of these schools
by the local authorities can be conducted In such
wav as 10 involve discrimination against them
The amount Of State aid depends upon Inc ei-
ociencv of pupils as demonstrated by public ex-
animation. In many communities the frlends OF
the denominational schools have charged local
politicians and members Of district boards with
deliberate attempts to reduce their revenues to
damage their reputation and TO force them 10
close their doors In York for example, there Is
said TO have been q systematic campaign con-
ducted bv an energetic local politician against the
voluntary schools, in consequence Of which three
or four OF them were shut up. Sometimes II mas
been zeal I'm behalf OF the secular board schools;
then again It has been local prejudice against de-
nominatio1al schools but whatever was the mo-
tive there has been evidence In many communi-
ties of political campaigning and relentless war
fare against these Church institutions which Mr.
Forster not only allowed TO remain but even pro-
vided means for sustaining and improving with
State aid.
ENCOURAGED BY THE MINISTRY.
Undoubtedly the influence OF the friends and
supporters Of the voluntary schools was strongly
exerted during the recent elections in favor OF
the party which is now in power. As soon as the
electoral struggle ended an agitation began for
LEGISLATION in behalf of these schools Lord Sails
bury. Mr. Balfour and other Ministers have given