In the discussion on Irish education on Tuesday night, an
amusing suggestion was made by Mr. Knox, that what Irelp no! wanted was an "innocent" history of Ireland, that is, one which could be read by Catholics and Protestants alike, without giving offence. It seems that, even in regard to other countries, " an innocent history" for Irish children cannot be found ; even histories of Greece and Rome being prohibited in Irish schools, on account of the many reflections on contro- versial topics to which they give rise. Still more difficult is it to know what to do with the Catholic emblems in schools where there are also Protestants to be educated, and this constitutes the difficulty of admitting the schools of the " Christian Brothers," otherwise very excellent schools, to the privilege of Government grants, the Education Department objecting to the public exhibition of dogmatic symbols, as, for instance, the crucifix, to which the ultra-Protestantism of Protestant Ireland has the greatest objection. Mr. Balfour seems to think that the difficulty is almost insuper- able ; but Mr. Morley is inclined to hope that he can get over it, in relation at least to Catholic emblems, though he despairs at present of an "innocent" history of Ireland. What Ireland needs, in education as in politics, is more disposition to enter into the minds of opponents, and less disposition to belabour their bodies.
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