[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:I Sirt,—May I, an
admirer of your articles on the Education Bill, and a school manager and treasurer for the last nine years, be allowed to suggest an alternative to your proposal to allow Voluntary schools to return to the status quo ante 1902 (see Spectator, April 28th) P It is that non-provided schools the subscribers to which are willing to bear the cost of the upkeep of the buildings should have a Board of Managers, one-third appointed in accordance with the terms of the trust-deed, the remainder by the Parish Council and the local authority. This is of course one of the amendments proposed for the Bill of 1902, which would have made it acceptable to Nonconformists. It would affect a large number of schools which were approaching insolvency before 1902, and, while giving popular control, would relieve the rates to an appreciable extent. If the subscribers were unable to put the buildings in an efficient state, the school would have to be handed over entirely ; but many parishes which could not afford to return to the old conditions would make an effort to retain the buildings. With regard to the religious teaching given in such schools, I cannot help hoping that it would be possible for a syllabus similar to that of Hampshire or Surrey to be accepted by non-provided schools, the only test imposed upon teachers being the question, "Are you conscientiously able and willing to teach by this syllabus ? "—I am, Sir, &c.,
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