New-York tribune., 1902-10-08
Mr.. BALFOUR'S BILL.
POPULAR AGITATION AGAINST A COM
PROMISE NE MEASURE-POSSIBLE ABAN-
DONAIENT OF THE BILL WITH
PURCHASE As A SEQUEL.
Lonaon. septemher 81

Mr Da4ltl-l Et4ACaiihl t'l-4 - an etl-4lHal ai-
tempt 10 conc.liate every interest by d series OF
COMPROMISES. Il has been trimmed. baUasted
ars readjusted. and az soon as Parliament re-
assemblies II ls 10 be reconstructed anew. but
whatever may be IT'S ultimate form. II can never
be az irerlcon Tor the abatement OF religious
strife over the control OF the schools. Nj Bal
F7ur cannot hope TO reconcile the Noncouforul-
ists TO any measure which is not disrinctively
a. uisr and undenominatoaal They broke
away from Mr. Forster thirty years ago when
he proposed q comprehensive scheme for the
creation Or board schools supported by local
taxation. and stopped midway with g compro-
mise BY which voluntary schools receiving a
restricted measure Of state aid were left under
denominaronal management subject 10 con
scieree clause enabling children with the con-
set of their parents 10 claim exemption from
religious instruction. The general result 81 this
compromise, which was adopted with the help
of Conserva arives and Roman Catholics was the
establishment of a dual basis Of education IN
England and Wales with an unequal contest
for the survival Of the httest between the board
schools adequately supported by the raJepayers
and the voluntary schools. which We're depend
ent upon private subscriptions and arrinCisllv
afHuated with the general system. Mr.. Balfour
has sought 20 bring this irreconcilab.e conflict
10 a close by tentative scheme q un!dcauon.
but the Nonc5rforrnists are repeating the argU-
ments which they advanced thirty wears ago
and are protesting strenuously against state
aid for cenoninaronaI schools They are even
threatening passive resistance on a large scale
by a refusal 70 pay rates 4 the Sil he enacted
The Nonoonformist position Is admirably de-
hre5 by pr Guinness Rogers in the October
number Of The Empire Review" He contends
that the UNCONVENTIONAL schools Viii cease 10 he
voluntary es soon as the ratepsyers assume the
= THAR NJ thar
they must be brought absolutely under local or
secular control and not he conducted on sec
tartan principles. What he favors IS virtually
the American system Of tree non-sectarlan edu-
cation. Local taxation involves non-sectarisn
control and instruction. since Protestants can
NOT with iustice he asked 10 contribute 70 the
religious education OF Roman Catholic children
nor Jews he rightfully taxed for Christian train
ing. Dr. Rogers admits the validity Of claims
Tor compensation. when buildings erected with
money supplied by the Church of England
by Wesleyans or by Roman Catholics are turned
over 70 public use, but he considers that an
rights 70 sectarian or exclusive management
lapse whenever the voluntary schools are turned
over 10 the raJepayers- AR. Balfour introduces
unity in the support Of both systems Of schools .
by local taxation, but ne retains The dual prip-
ciple when he leaves the voluntary schools under
ssctarian or denoninationaI control The mar
agement OF these schools under his bin would
he mixed. the ratepsyers having minority rep
resentaton and the religious bodies majority
control IN perperuity Dr Rogers condemns .
his compromise a irrational. He assumes that .
the control az the ratepayers must he absolute.
they are 10 be taxed for the maintenance OF .
the schools. and that when this question has
been settled. the instruction viii naturally be-
come secular and noR-sectarian. From the .
American point Of view, this position is unas-
salabe
The opposite side cf the controversy is pre-
seuted In the same magazine by the Bishop of
Rochester with an obvious effort 10 be fair and
impartial Es contends that the voluntary
schools were built mainly by chUrchmen and
maintained and operated by them for long
time without material aid from the state; and
that while children were brought up in The
faith OF the English Church, they were taught
In secular way the elements OF primary edu-
cation. While the Bishop admits the Enfairress
os having Nonconformist ratepayers send their
children 10 schools where the catechism Of the
English Church is taught and where the teach
ers are members Of that communion he con-
saers open management a source OF greater il-
,ustce when the buildings have been paid for
a. least In part and the institutions operated for
long period by 1hUrchmen. He works out an
exoeeoingiy loose and illogical equation by al
lowing the Church 70 have two-thirds OF the
10 education and ifs present liabilities for re-
pairs, as an OFFSET % the use Of the buildings on
sundays. The Bishops argument does not con
vince Noncontorulists that Church Of England.
Noman Catholic or Wesleyan schools ought 10 .
Do maintained al public expense under denonll- .
national management. This body OF religious .
neieonterts has a lighting issue. and is invig-
oieteo by h. Every day it is gaining fresh re-
e'aiis ana consolidating its forces. When Par
lament rose IN coronation week this unor-
ganlzec host ~ Disseuters was disposed 10 ac-
oept any compromise offered by an invincible
majority. The conditions have changed M the
course ot few weeks. The Nonconformists,
nsVlng discovered how strong is their position,
are reluctant 70 make peace without complete
ana unconditional surrender on the part Of the
government
The dual system sanctioned by Mr.. Forster
mas created rival bodies Of educators In Eng
'ane and Wales. school boards have heen IN .
existence fo- thirty years and have become
s'e~ty interested in their work Of raising the
s'-heaTas or elementary education and Of train
g force of teachers. The voluntary schools .
-se not been equally wei organized, and have
- s"e increasing pressure Of competition from .
0o4Fa schools, with superior equipment
N.lA no lack Of financial resources The 4
-e'onA o. these two educational bodies viii be
-e s'ee oy the passage Of the government bill.
& shool boards VIII be legislated out Of osdce, .
- 'He teachers now under their supervision .
-, y brought under the control OF new local .
s''1ss The teachers Of the voluntary .
-s WI be left IN their present positions
- "a nave the support Of a majority IN sym
~ WIN denouinat tional motives and objects
- ..-A'sFy schools. under the new dispensa-
s-.,.'l ,s WI be levellea upward and increased in
''.N.9lcy, and the teaching force viii remain I