EDUCATION BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1721, 11 April 1906, Page 2

EDUCATION BILL.

MR BIRRELL’S NEW MEASURE. By telegraph. Pres* As»’n, Copyright . Received 10 31 p in., April 10.

London, April 10.

Mr A. Birrell introduce! into the House of Commons bis Eiueation Bill. It enacts that from the beginning of 1908 all elementary schools are to become provided sohools, public control to be complete. There are not to be religious tests for teaobers, but the ordinary staff is to give simple Bible teaohing from 9 till a quarter to 10. There is to be no oatechism or distinctive formularies. Attendance is not to be compulsory till a quarts rto 10. The looal authority is to arrange with the owners of voluntary sohools for the use of sohoolhouses, and maintain the fabric at a cost of about £260,000 yearly, the owners to retain the use for evenings, also on Saturdays and Sunday. Religious instruction of a speoial obaraetsr may be given on two mornings in the week, if this is made a condition of the transfer of voluntary sohools; such instruction to be by speoial instructors, not to be paid by the loeal authority. Attendance at seoular instruction is alone compulsory. Authorities of urban areas are empowered iu the oase of a transferred voluntary sohool to permit ordinary teaobers at a denomination’s expense to give special religious instruction daily if the parents of fourfifths of the children attending desire, aDd if there is accommodation in other olbbs schools of the district for children whose parents do not desire such denominational instruction.

The Bill proposes, besides additional Exohrquer grants, an annual grant of a million. The aotual cost is thrown on tho looal authority, and will depend upon a spirit of mutual oonoession.

Tho Bill o tablishes a National Oounoi of Eduoation ia Wales.

Received 12.21 a m , April 11

London, Apiil 10

Tho Education Bill appoints a commission of three wherein the legal element is predominated to deal with schools held under trusts. The jurisdiction, not tho law, will be altered. It is believed tho majority of the schools will accept transfer.