EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 202, 20 May 1908, Page 7

EDUCATION.

GOVERNMENT SUGGESTS COMPROMISE. CATHOLIC ATTITUDE, A BLINDING WITH THE BISHOP'S BILL. I|Y TEUMJRAP!!—PKES3 ASSOCIATWN— COPTBJOHI (Rec. May 19, 11.26 p.m.) London, May 19. Tho Nationalists havo-dccidpd;to, vote against tho Government's Education Bill on ' Wednesday. ■ Sir. H'Kcnna (until recently President of the Board of Education), in■■ moving!.-tho' second reading of tho Bill, suggestefl tho possibility, after that, stage,, of adjusting some of tho Bishop of St.. proposals, to tho framework of the present Bill,- -if the acceptance of tho amended measure Tyould bo likely to lead to a lasting.peace. . , Lord Balcarres (Conservative member for North Chqrley, Lanes)) moved tho rejection of tho Bill. Mr. Jol)n Redmond, Leader. of tho Nationalist party, declared that tho suggested compromise would not bo satisfactory to tho Catholics. THE BILLS COMPARED. In estimating the prospects of. a . settlement of the education question (says the 'Christian World") it, may bo'well' to recall the actual facts of Hie position. Two Bills are. now before Parliament, that of the Government in the Commons and the Bishop of St. Asjph's in the Lords. Tho two rcsemblo poch other, in some l important, particulars. pro-, pciso one type of olbmentary school throughout the country, supported by', rates arid by Govorn : ment grants. ' T)iey. both, in these schpols, give undenominational religious teaching ' v pii the Cowper-Templo scheme. They abolish all religious t'osts for teachers, and the'y .i plape tho''schools in town arid country undpr popular Lcontrol. So far they concur . iri affirming the leading; principles of 'the Liberal contention.. Now come tho points, of 'difference.... Mr. M'lvouna's_ Bill, while allowing; undenominational religious teaching, excludes all 'other from rate-aided schools, allowing the existing Voluntary schools, if not prepared to , accept these conditions, to "contract out." Under this provision they- 'would continuo tlieir denominational teaching", and ; wo,uld bo\ partially supported bv an''.increased Government grant, but would cease to receive rate aid. The Bishop's Bill, oil the contrary, proposes to bring tho Church of England schools, into line with tho jirovided. schools, and in return for the loss, of thpir denominational character, to introduce into them and . also'into tho provided, ones facilities .fyr. (lenopiijiationjl teaching, where it is wished <for* by- tiioYparonts, iii school hours during three dpys.Vu tho week. In addilioi? to this, teachers would be allowed the option of giving tile sectarian instruction, the cost of which''"would -ber defrayed by tho (lenominalionalists themselves. 'In "br'ipf," thp Church will give up thp purely denominational character s of its" own - schools in exchange,for the "right<pfiontry" into.thq provided ones. ; .i . Tho iGoverriment attitude,.-as-represented iii Lord Crewe's speech in the House of 'Lords, was clearly ill favour of a compapt. He urged that the' Bishop's Bill should be read.'a second time, 'characterising it " as "a- distinct' assistance." While realising fully; all" the .'difficulties of the Bishop's spheme/'l he riuloiited. ' to'ivartls it not so much the -fighting"' as > the ■ " Com-! mitt'ee " attitude—that of a co-operator towards a mutually .desired Vend- rather..' than. ,of v .ait opponent.' And this feeling oil. the Government sido was fully reflected, in-,the Churph's attitude, as-exhibited in the, speech 1 of'the Primate. It iwas, Lord Rosebery,,said,, a, ."noble" speech. His "plea for unity* was evidently heartfelt. ".AVo want,"', ho said, .men to stand side by'. side, '.'and; 'above all, thoso,whose 1 main interest lies on 'the'.'moral and /religious side of. our c'o'muipji.'i life,' andit is .siinply ,heart-breakingv' f ,hatj ,:sq' .many., should bo suridarod upon ' this one'.question which keeps them apart.",., i ■ One'.of'the difficulties, of the Bill;--adds'the "Christian World," is'rlio fact tlint it would be impossible for * its operations to extend to Roman Catholic and Jejv|sli i schools, ifor which special provision woujd ji(ive ■ rp, bp made. ■ .