Religion in the Schools
The Church Assembly last week gave only a limited and half- hearted approval to the National Society's proposals for the reform of elementary education—in particular the surrender to the Local Education Authority of Church schools which could not be brought up to the required structural standards on the means available, and the acceptance of an agreed syllabus of religious teaching in all schools in single-school areas. It is true that there was a majority in favour of the original motion, as amended, among bishops, clergy and laity, but the minority in each case was substantial, and the amendment required the committee to take into fresh consideration various proposals that had arisen during the discussion. Most of these were of the nature of limitations on the National Society scheme, but the Bishop of Chichester evidently carried a consider- able body of opinion with him when he urged that all non-provided schools should be handed over to the Local Education Authority, as in Scotland. That, however, would appear to make the L.E.A. responsible for denominational teaching, a very decidedly retrograde step so far as England- is concerned. But even as things stand the voting need not be considered as putting obstacles in the way of the President of the Board of Education if, as may be hoped, he intends to introduce legislation on the lines of the National Society's proposals, though no doubt going beyond them in certain respects.
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