THE ENGLISH ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 165, 6 April 1871, Page 5

THE ENGLISH ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACT.

The following summary of the Act pas?ed by the Kn^lish Parliament last session will be of interest to ihe public generally . — The object of Parliament in this Act is to brin-^ home to every chi ! d in the country the blessings of elementary education, and to that end, first, to secure a good secular training ; and while affording the fullest protection to the rights of conscience, to give, in the second place, all the freedom and favour that can be properly bestowed by the action of the Slate on religious teaching: By this Act, the whole of England (not Scotland and Ireland) is divided into school districts ; these coincide in the metropolis wi h the parliamentary divisions ; in other towns with the borough boundaries ; and in the country with the parishes. The main requirement of the Act is— " There shall be provided for every district a sufficient amount of public elementary school accommodation for all the children resident in such district." The Education Department will cause full inquiry to be made, and wherever a deficiency exists a school board is to be formed for that district. The management of the new schools is vested in the school boards or in a body of managers appointed by them, consisting of not less than three persous. Kvery child attending any of these public elementary schools is to pay a weekly fee, which, however, may be remitted by the school board in • wfiola or part when they are 'of. opinion that the parent is unable from poverty to pay the same. "Ny religious

catechism or religious'formularly which is distinctive of any particular denomination shall be taught in the school. Ifc shall not be required of any child that he shall j attend or abstain from attending any ! Sunday school or any place of religious ! worship " contrary to the wish of his ! parents. Any religions observance or i instruction in religious subjects is to be . given afc the beginning or end of the secular teaching of the day — the time or times to be shown by a table conspicuously placed. Although the schools shall be open at all times to Her Majesty's inspectors, it shall be no part of their duties to examine any scholar therein in religious knowledge or in any religious subject or book. The funds of the schools are to be supplied from the fees of children, from, local rating, and, on the stated conditions being complied with, by parliamentary, grants. All existing volunteer schools will participate in the grants as before ; but no grant shall be made to any elementary school which" is not a public elementary school within the meaning o.f the new Act The Act does not enforce compulsory attendance. All by-laws must be approved by the Education Department.