New-York tribune., 1902-04-11
TORY STALKING HORSES.
PERMISSIVE EDUCATION BILL WITH
LOCAL OPTION AND AN IRISH LAND
PURCHASE SCHEME WITHOUT
THE COMPULSORY
PRINCIPLE.
London. March p

PRINCIPLE.
London. March %
Parliament is adjourning to-day for <he Eas-
ter recess after a beIated spasm Of energy IN
the production of two large legislative measures
for English education and Irish land purchase
The session opened at an unusually early date
but apart from desultory discussion OF the re-
form of procedure in the Commons and OF tne
necessary financial votes. nothing has been ae-
complished. London water bill. which is
generally condemned as a feeble expedient Tor
meeting a metropolitan emergency of supreme
Importance: an education scheme aiming at CO.
ordination of authority and unity of direction
for primary. secondary and technical schools
but so vague and indeterminate in its perTnis-
sive provisions ard local options that 1t is mora
likely TO create anarchy than order, and an
Irish land purchase measure. which stops snort
Of the compulsory principle and merely tacIll-
tates transfers from landlords to tenants ana
improves the administration of the Land court
these are the projects which have barely been
introduced for the first reading. one Of the
three measures may be enacted under pressure
Of closure but ministers do not appear 70 he
in earnest. These large legislative projects pro-
vide suitable background for the amended
procedure for the Commons, which has lum-
bered up the foreground Of the session They
are enabled 10 say that they might estao-
ush record for legislative and administrative
efficiency II they could obtain full control over
the work Of Parliament. The three measures
might be described as a tandem team OF stalk
ing horses If there We're any attempt 70 conceal
the real purpose which IS 70 allow the corona
ton wear 10 pass without any legislative laoors
of importance. The pose OF the ministry Is por-
trayed in a luminous sentence from Ranke
History OF the Papacy'': The Spaniard, full
Of personal rraterce and projects Of ambition.
stalked forward. wrapping his cloak around him
and casting looks of scorn on all the rest
The Education bill, introduced night before
last by Nj Arthur Balfour in a speech which
left every one in doubt respecting the bearings
Of the measure. apparently involved a pernlis-
sive compromise Of the original compromise
forced upon Mr.. Forster thirty-two years ago.
The first Gladstone Government, supported by
an overwhelming majority, undertook the re-
orga nization of the school system. when Eng
land was far behind other progressive countries
in the facilities offered for elementary eduCa-
ton There was a network of schools under
the control of the English Church, and there
were also Wesleyan, Roman Catholic and other
denominational schools in every section Of he
country. but there was no uniform system for
educating the children of the masses at public
expense Mr.. Forster started out with a COM
prehensive scheme for the creation Of local
board schools supported by the rates; but when
he encountered the resistance OF the patrons Of
existing denominational schools he fell back
upon a compromise. by which voluntary schools
received a restricted measure of State support,
vet were allowed seIf-control. subject TO a con-
science clause. enabling pupils at the request
Of parents to absent themselves from every
form of religious instruction. The general re-
suit of this compromise was the creation OF a
dual system of education in England and Wales,
with contest for the survival Of the fttest be-
tween the board schools. supported by the rate
payers and steadily increasing in efficiency. and
the voluntary schools. which were inadequate
ly maintained and artifcially affiliated with the
general system. Voluntary schools, without en-
larged financial support and systematized ar
rangements for the training of teachers, Ian
gushed from year TO year; the board schools
involved vast expenditures at the expense OF
ratepayers. and there was an i'll regulated and
unorganized effort to inprovise methods of sec
ondary and technical education. Something
was done by the Act of 1896 to relieve the
necessities of the voluntary schools. and by
legislation in 1889 town and county councils
were empowered to supply facilities for higher
technical education; but secondary education
has remained in allegiance; there has been con-
stant friction between school boards and the
managers Of voluntary schools, and there has
been lack of homogeneity and practical eff
cheney in the general educational system. Mr..
BalfOur has dealt with the anomalies of the
dual system by providing a comprehensive
scheme Of unifcation, and then making 1t per-
rnissive or optional rather than compulsory.
The Education bill is laborious attempt
to concfliate every interest by a series of COM
promises. The educational reforners have de-
rnanded a single authority for the direction and
control of primary, secondary and technical
schools: and this is provided in the county and
borough councils. The school boards have con-
tended that this authority should represent the
local ratepayers, upon whom the burden of ex-
pense falls: and. although they themselves
leeisated out of existence they allowed to
have their way and to take advantage of the best
expert talent there may he in the district. The
patrons of the voluntary schools have clamored
for the strengthening Of their plant and equip
ment and the deiverance of denominational
institutions from meddlesome inspections and
ruinous competition; and they also to be
accommodated. Public moralists have decaimed
against the fncessant denoninational wrangling
which goes on in the educational work of the
kingdom, and they are encouraged to believe
that an irencon has been devised. The advo-
Gates of secondary and technical schools have
complained of the vacuum between elementary
schools and the universities: and they are in
formed that this is to be filed. Every interest
= = ~ a. Fr7