DR. HODGKIN'S SOLUTION OF THE RELIGIOUS DIFFICULTY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sr,—The solution of the religious difficulty suggested by Dr. Hodgkin (Spectator, December 30th, 1905, and January 6th) is excellent in theory ; but I think that a voluntary rate would in most cases very soon break down in practice, and also that a general system of amateur teaching by various outsiders in different classrooms would be very difficult to work satis- factorily, especially from the point of view of discipline. I believe that the great majority of parents approve of the teaching given (subject to the Cowper-Temple Clause) in practically all provided schools. The power of withdrawal under the Conscience Clause is hardly ever exercised, and the arrangement for this teaching by the staff is entirely at the option of the local authority.. I see no reason why the local authority should not have the same power as regards the present non-provided schools when they take them over, as I assume they will, at a fair rental for the time they use them. Any existing interests would be abundantly met by allowing the present denominational managers, and them only, to pro- vide alternative religious instruction if they were not satisfied with that provided by the local authority. No one besides the present owners and managers can set up any religious grievance in consequence of the school being taken over, and I believe that if it were once recognised and removed in the way I have suggested, it would not be long before they would, in nearly every case, be satisfied with the instruction provided by the local authority, and not find it worth while to continue
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