THE EDUCATION BILL.
[To THE EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR.") SIR, —The enclosed papers relating to a local movement of educationists in favour of the main lines of the Education Bill may interest you. When the movement was first under- taken, the public controversy on the Bill was very keen, and as restricted as it was keen, being mainly confined to certain narrow political or religious lines. A wish to raise and widen public controversy was the chief reason for the present move- ment. It was also felt that it might do something to educate public opinion, which in large part ran a risk of thinking that the Bill was of interest only to ecclesiastical bodies, and thus help to make the Bill more acceptable to the people after it had passed. Many of the signatories are naturally of local interest and weight only, but many others will have a wider influence. I have already distributed copies to the signatories, and in the course of the next few days I hope to give the memorial a much wider circulation. (Over one thousand copies have been printed.) It is interesting from its general character, being supported by educationists apart from politics or creed. Indeed, a very large proportion of the signatories belong to the Liberal party and to the Noncon- formists. It is difficult to make an analysis without over- lapping, and the following rough one does overlap some- what:—Graduates or members of learned Colleges, over 110. Those who are or have been actively engaged in teaching : as professors, over 30 ; as head-teachers or principals of higher schools or educational institutions, over 17 ; as inde- pendent lecturers at the University or other educational insti- tutions, over 14; as assistant-masters in higher schools, &c., over 20. Holders of honorary educational appointments, over 60. Members of School Boards, 7. Persons holding high office in various Teachers' Guilds (mostly representative of primary teachers), 9. Members of learned professions apart from teachers, over 68. When it is noticed that the memorial was opened on the 10th inst. and despatched on the 14th the number and character of the signatories become more im- uortant.—I am, Sir, &c., R. F. C. LEITH. 16 Portland Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
"MEMORIAL TO GOVERNMENT.
We, the undersigned, in supporting the Bill from a purely educational standpoint, feel impelled to urge the following con- siderations upon the country :—
A continuance of the disorganised state of education in this country would be disastrous, and if the present effort towards reform were defeated, it would be long before any Government would be likely to make a further attempt to put primary and secondary education on a sound basis.
A raising of the standard of efficiency in the greater number of the primary schools in this country is an essential step already too long delayed.
The educational proposals of the Government are a natural extension of the Act of 1870, for, while introducing the im- portant feature of unification, they aim at placing a still greater proportion of education under the control of local elected bodies.
(d) The main proposals of the present Bill with regard to privately provided schools, though not ideal if we were starting afresh, are a natural outcome of our past history, and represent a reasonable and economical method of dealing with a difficult matter.
We would further offer to the Government the following opinions :-
l. That the practical benefit of the Bill will depend upon the extent to which the election of teachers is based upon educe-
tional efficiency, subject only to the reverent treatment of religion in all schools, and to the rights and trust obligations of the owners of school buildings.
2. That it is desirable for the Bill to confer upon local authorities power to develop education in needed directions, whether secondary or technical, without limit to expenditure other than that imposed by the ratepayers of each district.
2. Thatevery facility should be provided whereby the area covered by a single education authority can be enlarged, so as to include schools and education-centres of all grades, and so as to encourage the gradual absorption of small and insignificant education areas."
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