13 JULY 1985, Page 12

One hundred years ago

The London School Board on Thurs- day passed by a vote of nineteen to eighteen a momentous resolution. They resolved, on the motion of Mr Hoare, to 'petition Parliament to make it a condition of the annual grants that all public elementary schools should be open free to children of school age'. The majority is, of course, small, but London will have a heavy vote at the next election, and it is ominous that it should already be ready to relieve pa- rents of their responsibility. The labour- ers are only too likely to be on the same side, and it will take all the influence of moderate men to convince the country that it might as well undertake to feed all children as to educate all children out of public taxes.

Spectator, II July 1885