The London School Board, after deciding many months ago for
compulsion, has been rediecussing the whole matter this week, on occasion of adopting its byelaws ; and many who formerly were cordial for compulsion have preached caution and prudence, in view of the coming difficulty about denominational school fees. However, the principle of compulsion was adopted simply in the byelaw, but with an apparent understanding that no parents would be punished for not sending their children to school who had not been served with notice by the Board, and that none would be served with such notice where it would be very inex- pedient, looking to the character of the school accommodation, to compel. The issue of Friday's discussion as to paying the school fees for the children of the very poor at any schools their parents desire (denominational or otherwise) had not been published when we went to press. But great pressure had been brought to bear, by means of deputations, on the School Board, to reject the sanction given by a Committee of the Board to that mode of action. Should London shrink, the principle of compulsion will hardly be practically applicable in the metropolis at all.
