On the subject of making the schools free schools, Mr.
Chamberlain, of course, took up his old position ; but he did not argue it very well, except on the ground,—much the strongest ground,—that the collection of the school-pence involves more expenditure of energy and time on the part of the schoolmasters and mistresses than it is worth in the saving it secures to the taxpayers or ratepayers. As for the statement that it is the
interest of the public that all our children shall be educated, of course it is, else it would not be fait to tax the public for that purpose as we do. But it is clearly not so much the interest of the childless as it is of fathers and mothers ; and we submit, therefore, that the school-pence represent very fairly the extra interest which fathers and mothers have, beyond those who have no children, in popular education. Mr. Cham- berlain proposes that any elementary school, denominational or otherwise, which shall in future elect to become a free school, cthall have its State grant increased by something like the loss which it will incur in school-pence. The result would undoubtedly be a leas just distribution of the burden of education, but a considerable saving in time, temper, and efficiency to the masters and mistresses, and a decided alleviation of the difficulty of getting the children punctually to school.
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