THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 259, 20 February 1877, Page 3

THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.

As *he following, from the fH<#j*> thuhj TvW&tass he of interest to our general we msert it: there *vre move school! children: in London tlian there are Europeans and Maoris in the whole of New Zealand. The Home folic can afford to- forge I; our existence and ignore our doings. *V© must suiter toss if we do not watdv with some care fulness the progress or events in the populations from which we draw large number* of emigrants. And we return to-our account of the progress in- education at Home that our readers may possess the materials necessary for a fair judgment when the schools shall replace (bounty tW tie its■ in the thoughts and speeches of our politicians. 'Next session is certain to-see. the introduction of some ru-ory sweeping and comprehensive measure. Our « ► system,, which so commends itself to the approbation of most in tliis Pro vine \ is liable to be tampered with instead of improved unless our citizens will bestir themselves beforehand, to consider what amendments are desirable, and what eh.wes would be harmful. The experience at Home must be of great value in such an empury ; and by Home experience we do not mean only what the o!!i----cors of education have done, but also how fur thuir action has been continued by the approbation of their constituents. The one brief rW'iiw of the work of the liondou School Board wilt have carried home to even biassed minds the conviction that a great step- had been matte in advance during a very short period. The Board has come nearer to meeting the vast educational requirements- of half u million schoid children than any other organisations have done before. Denominational and voluntary schools have proved themselves utterly incapable of grappling with the diirieutties in anything like so effective a manner, altho-ugh they have been subsidised by the Ooverument. The denominational schools are .generally cmnucted with some church, and are under fchu chief control of the clergy. The voluntary schools are generally erected by argo employers, w.'io, id" course, fe,',i.iu the- maivt. cement in the hands of •• the linn." IVot.lv are supported by (o) school fees, (•'») ('loVi-.t-ntuervl'. grants, according to attendance ami results, and (<■) subscriptions from managers and supp >rtei'S. Board sc'iooU are all under one control. as the District Sehoots in Dnnediu are Under one Committee. fVirt the t!o;.rd has a ratio C powm- by whieh it can dispense wit'i uncerfc dn voluntary sm!.s'np. tiuus, and also- with- school l : e s if it chooses. The lVoa.nl schools n.:\< the list in t!ie IHI, and a.ro also publt ■ tosidtutions in t!ie fnlh-sfc S'-rt" ■ of the term. Tin-'Y •'""<' t'iere!'o-w wa'ehed with giva- I '. jealous-/ by tin-if pivth eessors, and enficined with-!ire:it free lout by thidr con.si.t.tiKMits - i-'-e rafopuv-'TS as welt as by tV p,.,., ; f* . i ■ f.':e Hoards not only need t. , ,1 , '. , c. bill; also tn do it in, she : a , v ,i-.- i.;'.. ■•■■> the af)-'»;'nv!i.l an I sup" ovfc <-di „ i ..-'iol • .-•) rinnvritv thev s'-nt. An ' '.-::• '■: i ■.nvn I '. tu'l-i I '. \'o upo-i ':.'[>' two 1.,-Liri ! • - 'haH remP'-t h;w < b :"i obt, iin-d, mi i -' tie* verdict pn'dic op : ni >u . . i, ■ i 'i ■■: i «. fc 1 o • no systeuv, however ~,, :.'•'.-. '■• d answer in the lotr.; run ;i, : ,io--.'C i ' poople. that does not. mi the -. v ',,. I ,' • .-eel :v t ifs -If to th'dr approbr... , ..„; W - ; ■ .-e nJready dete.il, d--('>-'" e' 1i,,,!,i '!'..!■■■■, f'eliru.U'y iinl) —fie .'-.hatt-i' ~,-:' t-i-s-i'- ; •>■' .six;, years' work on t'to pa.rt ... i.;,,- E'on.rtt.. Fortunat'-ly for • :.:, ■; ;■■;>■ |..d: ." has been lately submitted 0,, i,i.e opinion of their constituents, and, notwithstanding the most strenuous attempts to have it reversed, it has been reaffirmed by a most marked and decided majority. The opposition urged three points with intense reiteration. They complained that the Hoard was extravagant, that voluntary schools were injured,, and that the FSoant schools were irreligious. The replies to these allocations are of importance to us, locause similar charges are sure to be repealed whenever a compulsory system shall be proposed or adopted in this coorvin:. As to religion, it was replied t ! at it was not the Hoard's duty to- tench- Patechains, h' a - the fViblo vvas read in alt the suho ds, and that. ha' , dtv one scholar in a thousand was withdrawn front such, reading. As to injuring the votunhu'v schools, it was answer nI that though 1-0 schools had been- closed, IW hail been opened with much greater accommodation, and that dD.OOO hatl been aided- to the rolls during the six Vea.rs, and that "hen the attendance had fatten o|f in particular schools it was the result of bad management on him part of the conductors. And as to extravagance, it was alleged that the statements of the opposition were not aeenrdiug to facts ; that the average cost of buddings was under that of some- country towns ; that the sudden demand for teachers raised their stipends, while the low class of scholars lessened the ("Jovernuvjut grants : that the urgent, necessity of overtaking the population would become less pressing as the supply grew more nearly adequate ; and that under the cirCttmstauccs,. and in the face of th< froat work, done for the future, three-pence in the .£ was not a heavy rate, thv these grounds tlvy appeated j,,. (.|-, p . ratepayers with all their confidence. Nov was their confidence; misplaced.. London: Is tttvidod into Sen, districts. Each district returns five members—<>r ">4> in all. There were TH candidat s, at in favor of the Board's policy, including f >ur lathes, and47against tshOp"lh'". including fmr Catholics.' Of the :it. all the ladies) and all the gentlemen, with but one esUep.'.iun, won sea.ts. Of tlemouty one C'atludic, and V> others, were ret ••'•■ 'tt. hi nine districts the advocates ■ r...afd''s policy headed th.-» poll, and in ■'■' fee.th, the Rev. Mv. Maguire stood iu-sb by tlu narrow majority of but I-It>.

It might be tfcotight that «. decisive a defeat was the result of a fluke, or the inertness of the people. Nothing of the fctncl Every effort possible was made by the vanquished as well as the victors. Even the Bishop of London, with Canons Gregory and Miller, threw thi-uuvlves actively into the fray, in.t in vain. Dignity, and teaming, and popularity combined, onM imt stem the current. Every local paper was full of rt ports and debates. The hardings were covered with placards. More voters came up to the ballot-boxes in some of the districts than came «p to vote at the last Parliamentary cketion. London was not caught napping. So contidvut wera the opposition f>t winning the day. that t'tey had selected a Chairm-tn to displace Sir fJhartta Ile.d. To tt.» The Hoard has :;»■.:t : Sir €har!< s- is a»atn Chairman ; the lie v. J. Ilod-vm—an Kpiacopat clergyman h?-a;;tly_ supporting the rec-'tit policy—.s Vice-chairman ; and the work of tin? Board .v'df not he now to debate concerning a pdiey, hut carefnUy to carry nut in dt tad to completion the policy »t> clearty approved hy so large a majority of theVlcetot-s. The o: t.ds rt.sttlt i* nnmi .takctlde. The School Board system, inclusive of compulsion, will receive a more hearty support through the whole country. Every educational reformer wilt feel the Metropott.* is at his hack, and advocate more uti-tUnehingty tlm deposit of school management in a responsible body, and the introduction of sortie compulsory clauses.