THE EDUCATION BILL.
[To MI EDITOR 07 THE "SPECTATOR.] Si,—Some of us regret the decision of the Government to reject Lord Heneage's amendment to secure some religious teaching in all elementary schools, but we are more dis- appointed at finding no sentence in the speech of the Minister in charge of the Bill in the House of Lords expressing any sympathy with the idea, even if the carrying out of it presented very great difficulties.
It seems to give some justification to those who say that the present Education Bill is intended to lead up to a national system of secular education. The support which some Churchmen have given the Government on this matter has been founded upon the belief that the Cabinet are in earnest in their approval of teaching to the children of Christian England the rudiments of the Christian faith. If the support is to be continued, we must feel that in this matter we have made no mistake. We know that many Liberal Members of Parliament favour a secular solution. We fear lest the Government should yield to their persuasions. We are content to be misunderstood by fellow-Churchmen if we can be sure of the teaching of a common Christianity. But that is for some of us the crucial matter, and we are confident that the great mass of Englishmen, and, above all, of English parents, whether Churchmen or Nonconformists, agree with us. It is a pity, therefore, that Lord Heneage's amendment should have been discussed, and that no word of sympathy with its object should have been spoken by members of the Government. ' I believe it is only by a clear declaration in favour of some religious teaching as part of the school course that we can be saved from the temporary victory very soon of extreme denominationalism, to be followed speedily by a reaction which Would make secular education the permanent position. It will be a grievous pity if the Government desert those who desire a broad Christian settle- ment. May we not hope for some reconsideration of this matter by the Cabinet?
86 Gloster Place, Portman Square, W.
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