The Bishop of Hereford, whose sincere desire to promote a
settlement of the education question has been manifested both in and out of the House of Lords, propounds a scheme in Thursday's Times which deserves sympathetic consideration. In Provided schools or transferred schools provision is to be made for public control, freedom from denominational tests for teachers, and undenominational Bible teaching, subject to a Conscience Clause. The distinctive feature of the scheme is to be found in the following proposals, by way of alternative to the special "facilities" of Mr. Birrelrs Bill :— "Due provision for a system of national schools having been made as prescribed above, the owners of any recognized denomi- national school may continue their school under a body of six managers—three nominated by the local education authority, two by the owners of the school, and one by the parents of the children in the school—who shall receive the due proportion of grants for secular instruction only and for reasonable wear and tear during the hours of secular instruction, but no other payment from public funds, whether for rent or repairs, or any other purpose. No school to be recognized as an aided school (a) unless it is kept up to the standard of a national school in respect of buildings, sanitation, equipment, qualifications, and remuneration of staff, and general educational efficiency, as certified by his Majesty's inspector; and (b) unless the number of children in the parish or school district is, in the judgment of the Board of Education, sufficiently large to justify their recognizing two schools, due rogard being had to economy of public money and educational efficiency. Provided that all the above conditions are fulfilled the local education authority shall similarly recognize any denominational school which may be hereafter established as an aided school."
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