EDUCATION PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 237, 30 June 1908, Page 7

EDUCATION PROBLEM

TRAINING COLLEGES.

POLICY OF MB. RUNCIMAN. ■ : i A MODUS VIVENDI. H TELEcaAPT! —l'ltcsa Association—corrmGHt I (Rec. June 29, 11-20 p.m.) .London, Juno 29. ■ In connection with the Anglican Training Colleges, Mr. Ruiiciman (President of the of .Education) has arranged for a twelvo, months' modus vivendi for admitting "to the Colleges, under a conscienoo clause, to the extent of one half the vacant places.. Tho " Chronicle" predicts that the Church will,gain nothing by this limited acceptance of. no-tests. .If she went further she would increase her strength and influence with the nation. ■ ' : '. "The Times" doubts if the demand for such vacancies*mil be equal to the supply, and 'congratulates Mr. Ruiiciman on modifying tlio regulations of his predecessor (Mr. M'Kenna). Extremists on either sido aro likely to object to the modus vivendi, but the irdinary, man will rejoice. Tho Colleges are ;oady .to try an experiment which presents an Weasing probability of a settlement of the larger. Question.

' THE M'KENNA REGULATIONS.. ! Referring to tho Training College regulations of , Mr. M'Kenna, who' was President of the Board.of Education until Mr. Asquith took the Premiership, one, authority comments:—' "Great debate has taken place on account of certain new regulations concerning Training Colleges made by the Board of Education. Some of the oollege's are sectarian colleges, and, managed by. different churches, but all receive' large grants from the Exchequer. .. -" The Church, of England Training Colleges, for ■ instance, reoeived! in the years 18G3 to 1905 thetotal of ~£3,418,000 from the Exchequer, only a million pounds coming, from; voluntary subscriptions/ endowments, and students' fees. large sums from the Exchequer, it is-contended that the colleges should be open to all candidates without religious, tests. ' Mr. ;M'Kenna's regulations are for . tljis purpose. / - "In" future no 'qualified student who applies for,'admission'to a Training College is to be rejected, if there is room, except/on reasonable grounds, and tho grounds will not be regarded ; as reasonable if thqy are in respect of religious belief or social status.' ' "A building'grant of 75 per cont. of the cost is offered to local authorities who will provide undenominational Training Colleges. The joint effect of theso two steps is to increaso-the supply ;of undenominational {raining, and to afford relibf from the hardships felt by large numbers of,.'teachers .who, unless they conformed todenominational 'requirements, had no chance of. admission to many .Training Colleges, not withstanding the fact that ajmost the wholo cost of . their training would be borne by public ■ .funds.-: It'is hoped, by the greatly increased j building "grants, to hasten the erection of an. ; adequate number'of undenominational colleges - to'supply the growing need for trained teachers . in public'elementary schools. No college will be;recognfsod'-iii future unless it complios with these conditions. V",lt was calculated that 4300 out of the 5000 residential places open for candidates were subject to a'sectarian test." ■ . • , Referring to the. education question, , tho ".Guardian" of May 13 states:—"We are satisfied .that, the :moro; carefully the subject is examined'the. more likely Churchmen are to realise not . only the. vital importance of obtaining, access to. the provided schools, but the intimate connection between that access , and the supply of woll-equipped religious teachers. That: supply can only be maintained by. tho continuance of the Church .Training, Colleges without;- any .-such interference aji;., that .prescribed, by. Mr. M'Kenna. '.Thus''' our best chance'.-"of obtaining . the Training-.'College ■ Regulations,i.ili'es arrangement .of which access to the Council Schools j , .