THE SCHOOL BOARD.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") Sm,—A short, sharp paragraph in last week's Spectator rebukes the London School Board for spending its time in " theoretic " questions, and cruelly urges it to do some "work."
The "religious question" has occupied us in debate not nine hours in all,—less than one day's sitting of the House of Commons. Is this too much time for a new assembly to give to the question most debated at the election of each of its members—confessed to be most difficult of solution in Parliament—necessary to be settled for every school to be built, asked first of all by the managers of each of the schools about to be handed over, and vitally affecting the future education of some millions of children ?
Provision is being made for 5,000 schools in London. About 430 minutes have been devoted to discuss the main question that concerns every one of these schools. Is it too long a discussion that gives one minute of the Board's time for every ten schools?
Can you point to any body of paid or unpaid workers in Britain who have wasted less of their time than the School Board ? Can you instance any Committee in which so much time and energy have been freely given by persons diverse in their opinions, but agreed upon the object of their work ? Can you name any society or organization which has been suddenly called upon to plough, and to harrow, and to sow a field so huge, and then has been complained of because nine hours were spent in choosing the kind of seed, and has been rebuked because in three months' time
these is no " harvest-home "?—I am, Sir, &c., A MEMBER. [We believe we have been unjust. It is very difficult to judge debating bodies fairly, and in this case we feel little doubt we have judged a new one unfairly.—ED. Spectator.]
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