Mr. A. Acland, the Vice-President of the Council of Educa-
tion, made his annual statement on Tuesday, and gave a satisfactory account of the working of the Free Education Act. He asked for £8,500,000, a large increase on the Esti- mate of last year. The increase was partly due to the increase in average attendance, which he attributed to the working of the Free Education Act, and he dwelt particularly on the in- crease in the attendance at evening and continuation schools which he expected to be doubled during the current year. As that really touches the weak point of our primary education, namely, that it is so soon completely forgotten after the school- life ends, we regard this large increase in the attendance of those who have left school as specially satisfactory. With relation to the ordinary day-schools, Mr. Acland said that in 1890 the increase in average attendance was 35,000 ; in 1891, 32,000 ; in 1892-93, 229,000 ; whereas the Departmenthad only counted on an increase of 128,000 for that year. The whole statement was made in a very conciliatory tone, and we must say that the charge made against Mr. Acland of unfairness towards the voluntary schools and of a very despotic adminis- trative temper have not been proved. We believe, indeed, that in general Mr. Aeland's energy has stimulated the voluntary schools to exertions of a most beneficial and wholesome kind.
Previous page
