THE EDUCATION BILL.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—As an illustration of parents' wishes in the matter of the religious education of their children, so far as schools can give it, I would call your readers' attention to the choice of that part of the Cambridge " Locals " for junior students in the year 1904, the last I have before me, which was alternative. In this year eight thousand one hundred and fifty-four candi- dates took the compulsory part, and had four alternatives for the rest,—the first book of Kings, which was taken by four thousand five hundred and fifty ; some chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, which were taken by two thousand seven hundred and forty-nine ; the Church Catechism, which was taken by five hundred and thirty-five; and Morning and Evening Prayer in the "Book of Common Prayer," which was taken by one hundred and eighty-seven. You will observe that this choice is made by parents, presumably acting on the advice of the teachers, and in our secondary schools, which are certainly not as a rule Nonconformist.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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