THE EDUCATION BILL.
[TO THE EDITOR Or TUE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,--The controversy as to the Education Bill is making a cleavage between parties, and it is perhaps advisable that those of us who are still Liberal (and Nonconformist)
Unionists should distinctly state our position. became Unionists because of Mr. Glailsione's excessi*e proposals for devolution in the government of Ireland, and because of his anti-Imperial policy as regards the wider interests of the British Empire; and we remain Unionists because we do not trust the Liberal Party in these matters. We are none the less Liberals in our 'desire for freedom in State and Church, and as Nonconformists we object to the dominance of any Church in our public schools. It seems to us that no Unionist can call himself Liberal who does not assent to this position, and that this principle was not adhered to by the late Government in their plan of including denominational schools in the State educational system.
Now the Government of the day propose to oust denomina- tionalism from the schools, and we must cordially assent. They propose that public control must follow national support, and again we assent. They claim that the basis of religious truth can be taught, and should be taught, without sectarian bias, and most Nonconformists will certainly agree. The Government proposal is a compromise between the logical alternatives of denominationalism and secularism, and is surely better than either. To limit the national schools to a secular curriculum, with freedom of access to all denominations, must surely soon lead to the shutting of the school doors upon the discordant teachers of differing creeds, and leave us with purely secular teaching. In Birmingham all this is familiar ground. We have tried purely secular teaching, we have tried free access for all religious teachers, and wo have tried a minimum of undennmi- national religious instruction in school hours ; and surely of all these the last policy has been the best, and can be defended by the general approval of the parents.
The support given by Nonconformist Unionists to many Unionist candidates at the General Election was given for Imperial reasons, and was not in any way connected with the education question, upon which Unionist Members, whether Liberal or Conservative, will doubtless consider the convictions of their Nonconformist supporters.
The supporters of the Government education policy have this in common with the denominationalists, they are upholders of education based upon religion,—a foundation upon whioh parents and religious teachers can build according to their several creeds. Many of us believe that the essence of religion lies beneath all creeds, and that the prime essentials may be taught in schools, while other important truths may be left to other teachers.
Birmingham.
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