17 DECEMBER 1904, Page 3

Several interesting educational events have occurred during the past week.

On Monday the new scholarship scheme of the London County Council was published, which forms a com- plete recasting of the system which has been in force since 1893. It is proposed to select annually between two thousand and three thousand of the ablest children of the ages of eleven or twelve in the London public elementary schools as junior county scholars. Each child will receive free education in a secondary school till the age of fourteen, when the scholar- ship may be renewed for two more years. Money payments may also be made under a separate system to those who require it. From such scholarships the scholar may advance by intermediate and senior scholarships to a University education. The scheme seems to us to provide a real "ladder of learning," and it has the additional merit that it makes full provision for recruiting for the teaching profession. On Tuesday Lord Londonderry received an important deputation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which urged the need of further measures for the development of technical and secondary education. Lord Londonderry, in reply, said very truly that the establishment of secondary schools did not lie with the Board of Education, but with local authorities, on whom pressure should be brought to bear. The Board could ensure direction, but not supply. It was essentially a matter for co-operation between the public and the Government.