LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
FREE SCHOOLS.
[To THE ED/TOR OF THE SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Mr. Arthur Mills, in his letter to you, assumes that free education virtually means the extinction of Voluntary Schools. The entire cost of inspected schools last year in England and Wales was nearly six and a quarter millions. This sum was provided (in round figures) as follows :—Government grant, two and three-quarter millions ; subscriptions and rates, one and three-quarter millions ; school-pence, one and three-quarter millions. I am at a loss to understand bow Voluntary Schools will be injured if the Government capitation grant on average attendance was increased in all schools that were made free (both Board and Denominational) to an amount equivalent to the school fees surrendered. The increase in the capitation grant would average 10s. per head, and represent (with Scotland) a penny in the pound of the Income-tax.
The policy of free education, whether sound or unsound, is one that should be discussed upon its own merits. A proposal to increase the Government grant in order to relieve parents from the payment of all school fees, is outside the School- Board controversy, and may be opposed or defended by the warmest supporters of either Board or Denominational schools. —I am, Sir, &c.,
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