THE EDUCATION DIFFICULTY: A SUGGESTED SOLUTION.
1To THE EDITOR Or TUE " SPECTAT011.1 SIR,—According to present appearances, the Liberal party will soon be called upon to declare how much they will retain and how much they propose to rescind of the Conservative legislation of the last few years ; and with reference to no measure does a more difficult problem await them than the Education Act of 1902. The essential defect of that measure was that, on a question which required the most careful con- sideration and regard for the conscientious convictions of a large body of English citizens, no such regard was shown. It is earnestly to be hoped that the Liberal party, should they come into power, will not fall into the same error on the opposite side. It would be disastrous, as well as unjust, merely to substitute the "passively resisting "Churchman for the "passively resisting" Nonconformist. The often derided "Nonconformist Conscience" is a genuine thing, and is entitled to be heard in such a question as this ; but it is bound to remember that there is an "Anglican Conscience" also which has both its duties and its rights. The problem before us is bow to give to the children of our people that kind of education which thoughtful citizens of all Churches or of no Church require, without taxing A for the inculcation of religious doctrines which are dear to B, but which A believes to be untrue, or even dangerous. Is not the obvious solution of this problem afforded by the separation, financially, of secular from religious teaching ; making the former a charge binding on all citizens, and leaving the latter to the generosity of individuals ? In our present system of education, religious teaching occupies as a rule about a twelfth part of the school day, half-an-hour out of six hours. Then let the payment of the teacher, so far as it is provided out of the rates, be divided in the same proportion. If an Education-rate of one shilling is about to be levied, let elevenpence of that rate be compulsory, and let this be applied solely to secular education. Let it be stated on the demand-note that an additional penny applicable to religious education is a volun- tary rate, which no one need pay if he objects to it. If in any parish payment of the voluntary rate is universally refused, that must be taken as evidence that a purely secular education satisfies the requirements of the parishioners. You, Mr. Editor, would probably agree with me in thinking that they are making a terrible mistake ; but let them have their way. After all, that is only what we shall come to all over England if the present strife between the Churches continues unabated. In the majority of parishes, however. it will be found that there are some, probably many, parishioners who wish for religious education in the schools. If they are willing to make up the required quota of one- twelfth, let them have a pretty free hand in deciding what is to be the nature of the religious instruction given and by whom it shall be imparted. If you will allow me, I will in another letter develop my idea a little further, and show how the scheme would work in different parishes.—I am, Sir, &c., THOS. HODGKIN. Barmoor Castle, Beal, Northumberland.
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