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[THIS DOCUMENT I S THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY S GOVERITMSHT]'.
1
C A B I N E T .
SECRET.
Copy N o .
"
VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS.
J M
CTPT'7 3 / 3 0 .
^g£ORANgU^ by t h e PRESIDENT of
m
In the l a s t
conference
to find
in r e l a t i o n
realise
that
first
Many of
situation
b e c a u s e of
Hierarchy for
the
t h e m e m b e r s of
- p o l i c y was c l e a r l y
that
laid
interests
legislation
into
all
the
if
for
requested,
I n many- p a r t s
of
to bring
standard
or t o e n t e r
children
to senior
there
representative
is a real
of
and
either
of s e n i o r
the
by
reached.
need,
from
the
schools
schools,
on
the
of
c l a s s e s and a d v a n c e d s c i e n t i f i c
b u i l d i n g programme
the Voluntary
its
the
to accommodate a n o t h e r y e a r
smaller
the
then
the
to bring the voluntary
country
into arrangements
which
Schools play t h e i r
part.
t h e Church of E n g l a n d
is
schools up to the
Council Schools.
of t h e
Party
I t was
agreement, had been
a considerable
cannot be completed u n l e s s
i n most p a r t s
. The
a
r e o r g a n i s a t i o n which a r e going
schools
and t o p r o v i d e
trying
the
scale.
the Election.
The c r e a t i o n
o r manual work r e q u i r e s
sincerely
will
Catholic
general
and would only a c t
children,
of e x i s t i n g
life,
the
of E d u c a t i o n w o u l d f a c i l i t a t e
affected
over t h e c o u n t r y .
child
in
the Local Education Authorities,
the arrangements
alteration
demand of
on t h e w i d e s t
or r e g u l a t i o n a f t e r
of v i e w of
diffi­
My c o l l e a g u e s
to the Denominations.
In the second p l a c e ,
point
the present
h a s "become a c u t e ,
down b e f o r e
the Minister
B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n ,
private
our P a r t y d u r i n g t h e e l e c t i o n went
summoning of a C o n f e r e n c e ,
various
for
insistent
building grants
l o n g way i n p r o m i s i n g h e l p
stated
solution
to Voluntary Schools.
the present
place,
i
f e w m o n t h s I h a v e "been t r y i n g b y
an agreed
culties
t h e BOARD . C P EDUCATION.
required
to send t h e i r
older
But the C a t h o l i c s
country have withheld
their'
hitherto
co-operation.
I h a v e made no a t t e m p t
to f i n d
Voluntary School q u e s t i o n .
That
o n l y oy g r a d u a l
I have
t h e p r o b l e m of
evolution.
e n a b l e d t o do so',
thousands
of
b u r d e n i n g of
of
new
of
all;
or
accompanied by the concession
not
of
the
building
Authorities.
impossible
the buildings
even
of
to
consider
Voluntary
of m o r e
public
Managers.
Prom t h e A r c h b i s h o p
t h e Church A u t h o r i t i e s
of C a n t e r b u r y ,
acting
and t h e E x e c u t i v e of
Society,
I received proposals
attached
i n an A p p e n d i x .
for
the
on
behalf
National
an accommodation w h i c h
They r e p r e s e n t e d ,
as
it
are
appeared
me, a g e n u i n e e f f o r t
to work w i t h t h e E d u c a t i o n A u t h o r i t i e s
a genuine concession
to p u b l i c
o u t of p u b l i c
Representatives
The E x e c u t i v e
The C a t h o l i c
of
assistance
turn:-
Churches,
t h e n a t i o n a l U n i o n of
of t h e L o c a l
Teachers,
Authorities.
Church r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
the proposals
important Leaders
acceptable.
religious
tests,
was
divided.
But s e v e r a l
adopted the a t t i t u d e
b u i l d i n g of V o l u n t a r y
that
while giving
the
State
most
proposals
support
to
the
Schools.
The N a t i o n a l U n i o n o f
tests
and
Hierarchy,
The o p i n i o n of t h e F r e e
to the r i g h t
in return for
I approached in
of t h e "Free
Representatives
maintained
control
to
funds.
With t h e s e p r o p o s a l s
Some t h o u g h t
to
part
of h u n d r e d s
extensive
as q u i t e
in respect
Thole
comes a t
they are
schools by the Local Education
c o n t r o l by the V o l u n t a r y
of
If
conditions
and t a x d s f o r
I have regarded i t
public assistance
it
the
to p l a y t h e i r
i t w i l l mean t h e p e n a l i z i n g
the rates
senior
if
of
c o n f i n e d my e x p l o r a t i o n
reorganisation.
c h i l d r e n by i n f e r i o r
Schools unless
c a n come,
enabling Voluntary Schools
in the p r e s e n t n a t i o n a l
a solution
Teachers
of e n t r y on a n y t e r m s .
ought to be a b o l i s h e d
They a l s c
altogether.
2.
emphatically
objected
insisted
that
The L o c a l A u t h o r i t i e s
o o l l e c t i v e view.
not he
h a v e so f a r
But I have r e a s o n to
not ' expressed
think that
a
t h e y would
hostile.
The c a t h o l i c
the proposals
if
Hierarchy appear to be w i l l i n g
they cannot get
the chief
interests.
a stronger position
proposals which I
The s o l u t i o n I
to
suggest
complete
if
I
could put
is a modification
It
is
schools
in
in
^forward
reasonable.
i n some r e s p e c t s
in i t s
central
the s o l u t i o n which i s working w i t h
c a s e of t h e c a t h o l i c
agreement
But I should f e e l myself
say t h e Government t h o u g h t
the Archbishop's p r o p o s a l s .
similar to
to get
t r y to obtain i t
could
accept
more.
I t w i l l be very d i f f i c u l t
among a l l
to
of
features
success
in
the
Scotland.
PROPOSALS..
(1)
The L o c a l E d u c a t i o n A u t h o r i t y
should be
to s p e n d p u b l i c money on t h e r e p a i r ,
snlargement
of e x i s t i n g Voluntary
works a r e r e q u i r e d f o r purposes
reorganization,
improvement
Schools where
of a p r o g r a m m e
wherever a n agreement
or
such
of
is arrived
between the Local Education Authority
.
entitled
and
at
the
-Managers.
[it
should be observed t h a t
as. permissible for
(2)
do n o t p r o p o s e
e n t i r e l y new s c h o o l s .
c o n t i n u e to b e u r g e n t l y
o p p o s e d by t h e E r e e
I
While
this
demanded b y t h e C a t h o l i c s ,
become t h e
such grant
salaried
is
given the
i t would
servants
teachers
of t h e L o c a l
A u t h o r i t y a n d b e a p p o i n t e d .by t h e m a n d
(3)..
will
be
Churcnmen.]
where any
by
grants
must
Education
removable
them.
B u t t h e M a n a g e r s may r e t a i n
c o n s u l t e d and s a t i s f i e d
teachers
are willing
that
the
some o r a l l
and competent
denominationa1 instruc tion.
right
to
of being­
of
give
the
(4)
A g r e e m e n t m u s t "be r e a c h e d a t
arrangement
t h e t i m e when
i s made b e t w e e n t h e L o c a l
A u t h o r i t y and t h e M a n a g e r s
s h o u l d Toe l i a b l e
to t h i s
Education
a s t o how many
the
s i z e s of t h e g r o u p s of c h i l d r e n i n t h e
and not b e l o n g i n g t o
[The o b j e c t
of
this
is
that
the
if half
t e a c h e r s might be f r e e
all
Catholics
to
if
i n a s c h o o l i t would be open to
require that
school
the children
families
t e s t s , but
approximate
denomination.
a c h u r c h s c h o o l came f r o m N o n c o n f o r m i s t
of
teachers
denominational
r e q u i r e m e n t , due r e g a r d b e i n g had to
belonging
half
the
should
provide
teachers.
fact,
servants,
eliminate religious
leave
it
t o make t e a c h e r s p u b l i c
tests
altogether
t o t h e good s e n s e of
and iaanagers to c a r r y
due r e g a r d t o t h e
existing
In
to
i n some c a s e s , and
the Local Education
out t h e axopointment
denominational
were
managers
t h e m , a s t h e y do i n s c o t l a r x i , w i t h C a t h o l i c
is
in
the
the children
the Local Education.Autho ri ty
the object
the
to
Authorities
of t e a c h e r s
character
with
of
the
school,]
(5)
Ho t e a c h e r
shall
Education Authority.
be d i s m i s s e d
But
except by
faileo: to give such
ana. s u i t a b l y .
. In
the Board of E d u c a t i o n f o r
(6)
in
the case of children
Voluntary School
it
religious
case of a
difference
Education
shall be referred
to
decision,
transferred
to a S e n i o r Council
from a
School,
provision
may b e made o n two d a y s i n t h e w e e k , w h e r e t h e
is
the
instruction
which cannot be s e t t l e d between the Local
A u t h o r i t y ana t h e m a n a g e r s ,
the
remove a t e a c h e r on
ground t h a t , having been appointed, to give
efficiently
Local
t h e k a n a g e r s may a s k
Local Education Authority to
i n s t r u c t i o n , h e had
the
expressed by the p a r e n t s , for
those
desire
transferred
children alone
provided for
to have s p e c i a l
them by i n s t r u c t o r s
b u t no t e a c h e r
such s p e c i a l
are
instruction.
transferred
the Local Education
very s t r o n g l y indeed
that
would i n d i r e c t l y r e s u l t
instruction
order to get willing
teachers
t h e y do n o t
free
a
outside
syllabus
in t e s t s
in the
direction
of p u b l i c
affected
control
will for
since
t o my c o l l e a g x i e s
Local Education A u t h o r i t i e s ,
with denominational
either
on
on L o c a l
agreement
a further
step
ivith
in
the.­
in the
Voluntary
time be a p p o i n t e d b y
p r i m a r i l y on e d u c a t i o n a l
qualifications
the
individual
the teachers
the f i r s t
in
schools.]
to proceed by v o l u n t a r y
initiate
afraid
being applied
or Managers but l e a v e
and b e c a u s e t h e y
to
give
They a r e
impose a s e t t l e m e n t
Managers,
Schools
children
the objection
voluntarily.
commend t h e s e p r o p o s a l s
Education Authorities
Authorities
to
in Provided Schools b e i n g even asked to
religious
ground t h a t
where
may a s k f o r
parents
give
Authority,
special
I
Conversely,
from a C o u n c i l Sohool
[The Teachers f e e l
it
coming from . w i t h o u t ,
i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h an a u t h o r i s e d
Instructors
any t e a c h e r s
instruction
i n t h e s c h o o l s h a l l be asked to
Senior Voluntary School,
of
religious
only as a
the
grounds
secondary
consideration.
I suggest
forward
(l)
that
on t h e s e l i n e s
if
it
the Cabinet
are prepared
would be a d v i s a b l e :
to
go
­
To c o n s u l t a g a i n w i t h t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e B o d i e s ,
with
whom I h a v e b e e n a l r e a d y i n
obtain
any f u r t h e r
observations
modified proposals;
that
all parties
in order to
w h i c h t h e y may h a v e on
t h e same t i m e s u g g e s t i n g
should,
a n d of t h e c h i l d r e n ,
accommodation.
at
contact,
in the i n t e r e s t s
be r e a d y to
enter
The C a b i n e t m i g h t
of
into
like,
for
these
to
the
such
this
them
nation
an
purpose,
-to a p p o i n t a S u b - C o m m i t t e e t o work w i t h m y s e l f .
( 2 ) oJo p r e p a r e a W h i t e P a p e r e x p l a i n i n g t h e p o l i c y a n d ' i L s
implications'.
If
t h e g e n e r a l r e c e p t i o n i n t h e P f e s e and e l s e w h e r e
were f a v o u r a b l e ,
t h e s o o n e r t h e House of Commons c o u l d
the m a t t e r the b e t t e r , as a t this"moment a l l
s e c t i o n s of
Houde seem t o b e vei*y a n x i o u s f o r some k i n d o f
C.T.
3 r d M a r c h , 1930.
debate
the
settlement.
APPENDIX.
Proposals receive'-'', from tlib Archbishop of C a n t e r b u r y .
A.
Draft claused a u t h o r i s i n g L*liu,A a to- input- expenditure on repair.,
lfflnrovPraant ,6r enlarftamcnft of Voluntary Schools r o q u i r jd, f or
purposos of, r e o r g a n i s a t i o n .
,
,
1.
I f t h e managers of an er l a t i n ; ? p u b l i c elementary school not provided by
the l o c a l e d u c a t i o n a u t h o r i t y a r e unable t o execute any works of r e p a i r , iraprcve­
ment or enlargement of t h e school premises which, in t h e o p i n i o n of t h e A u t h o r i t y
are n e c a s s a r y to' g i v e e f f e c t t o a sen $tin of r e o r g a n i s a t i o n approved by t h e Board
of E d u c a t i o n , the A u t h o r i t y may a t t h e r e q u e s t of t h e managers and w i t h tlia
consent of t h e trusteosjor owners of t h e school p r e m i s e s , and s u b j e c t t o t h e
following c o n d i i i o n a , u n d e r t a k e to execute [defray t h e coat o f ] such Work? and
any f u r t h e r works which may i n the opinion of t h e A u t h o r i t y be from time t o time
necessary or d e s i r a b l e t o render t h e premises s u i t a b l e f o r use f o r purposes of a
public elementary school and f o r o t h e r purposes of p u b l i c oduoation c o n s i s t e n t
with t h a t u s e , and t o m a i n t a i n them in t h a t c o n d i t i o n .
2.
I t s h a l l he a c o n d i t i o n of such undertaking t h a t t
(a) t h e A u t h o r i t y s h a l l have t h e r i g h t of a p p o i n t i n g and d i s m i s s i n g
t e a c h e r s in t h e school provided t h a t
( i ) Beforo any appointment io made t h e managers s h a l l have t h e
r i g h t t o he c o n s u l t e d and t o he s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e t e a c h e r ,
i f r e q u i r e d t o g i v e r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n , is w i l l i n g and
competont t o give i t , due r e g a r d boing had to the c h a r a c t e r
of t h e r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e school p r e s c r i b e d under
S e c t i o n 2 9 ( 5 ) ( c ) of t h e Education A c t , 1 9 2 1 .
( i i ) The managers may c a l l on t h e Local Education A u t h o r i t y to
remove a t e a c h e r , being a t e a c h e r ' r e q u i r e d t o g i v e
r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n , on t h e ground t h a t he has f a i l e d t o
g i v e such i n s t r u c t i o n e f f i c i e n t l y and s u i t a b l y h a v i n g
r e g a r d t o t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n in t h e
school p r e s c r i b e d under S e c t i o n 29(5)(c) of t h e Education
A c t , -1921.
(b) the A u t h o r i t y s h a l l have t h e p e r p e t u a l vise of t h e premises f o r
the purpose of a p u b l i c - e l e m e n t a r y school so long as t h a t u s * i s
n e c e s s a r y and ( s u b j e c t t o the. p r o v i s i o n s of S e c t i o n 2S(2) (e) of
t h e Education A c t , 1921) f o r such other purposes of p u b l i c
.education as t h e A u t h o r i t y consider d e s i r a b l e .
3.
An enlargement of t h e premises of a school to which such an u n d e r ­
talcing a p p l i e s aha 31 not he t r e a t e d as t h e p r o v i s i o n of a new school f o r t h e
purposes of' S e c t i o n 18 of t h e Education A c t , 19.21..
Any expenditure i n c u r r e d by t h e A u t h o r i t y under t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s in
4.
respect of t h e premises of schools n o t provided by t h e A u t h o r i t y , s h a l l be t r e a t e d
for the purposes of any g r a n t s made by t h e Board of iiducation as i f i t had beon
incurred on premises provided by t h e A u t h o r i t y .
5.
I f any question a r i s e s under t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s aa t o t h e power of t h e
Authority or t h e Hanagere, or i f any d i s p u t e a r i s e s between t h e A u t h o r i t y and
the Managers, t h a t question or d i s p u t e s h a l l be determined by t h e Board of
Education.
B.
Draft c l a u s e s a u t h o r i s i n g LgByAJ^s t o e n t e r i n t o u n d e r t a k i n g s
With r e g a r d t o religjou3 i n s t r u c t i o n .
IThera in order t o give e f f e c t t o a scheme of r e o r g a n i s a t i o n tho
managers of a school not provided by tho L.B.A. agree with t h e L.E.A. t h a t the
-1.
children a t t e n d i n g t h e school who a r e over t h o age of e l e v e n y e a r s s h a l l be t r a n s f e r r e d
to a school provided by t h e L . E . A . , t h e L.B.A, may u n d e r t a k e
(a)
t o p r o v i d e i n t h a t s c h o o l C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n and t o make or
f a c i l i t a t o arrangements f of t h e i n s p e c t i o n of such, i n s t r u c t i o n ?
(b)
t o permit t h e managers to use a room or roans In the rjchoolho-use on n o t
more than two days a weak between t h o hours of 9 and 9-45 a.m. free of
charge i n o r d e r t h a t t r a n s f e r r e d c h i l d r e n may, i f t h e i r p a r e n t s d e s i r e ,
c o n t i n u e to r e c e i v e s p e c i a l r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n , provided t h a t no c h i l d
s h a l l be o b l i g e d t o a t t e n d the school during t h o s e p e r i o d s and t h a t no
t e a c h e r in t h e school s h a l l be under any o b l i g a t i o n t o take p a r t i n g i v i n g
such s p e c i a l r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n .
I n any a r e a where [an arrangement tinder (b) above i s agreed t o as
r e g a r d s c h i l d r e n over e l e v e n , a n d ] c h i l d r e n ovor o r under t h e ago of
eleven y e a r s are t r a n s f e r r e d from a ochool provided by t h a Lr&tA. to a
school n o t ao p r o v i d e d , o r from a n o n - p r o v i d e d 3ohool of one denomination
t o a non-provided school of a n o t h e r denomination, p r o v i s i o n s h a l l be made
for r e l i g i o u s t e a c h i n g t o be given in t h o school t o which such c h i l d r e n
a r e t r a n s f e r r e d upon t h e s y l l a b u s ( i f any) p r e s c r i b e d o-" a u t h o r i s e d by
t h e L . S . A . for use in s c h o o l s provided by them;
(c)
to f a c i l i t a t e arrangements where circumstances p e r m i t , by which t r a n s f e r r e d
c h i l d r e n may continue to r e c e i v e r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n [ i n t h s school
which t h e y p r e v i o u s l y a t t e n d e d ] [ i n a school not provided by t h e L . 3 . A . ]
before a t t e n d i n g t h a school provided by t h e L.B.A.;
(d)
to e s t a b l i s h a R e l i g i o u s I n s t r u c t i o n Qcranittee or Committees to a d v i s e and
a s s i s t i t i n g i v i n g e f f e c t to t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s .
Nothing in t h e s e Clauses s h a l l p r e v e n t t h e g i v i n g of s p e c i a l r e l i g i o u s
p s t r u c t i o n under the p r o v i s i o n s of S e c t i o n 29(5) (c) of t h e 3 d u c a t i o n A c t , 1921.
2.