Leading Articles on Various Subjects

John Stuart Mill · en
'1_st_, The entire omission in all cases (except, perhaps, the
     case of the Established Church) of the certificate regarding
     religious instruction, and the recognition of all bodies, whether
     Churches or private parties and associations, as equally entitled
     to receive aid.

     '2_d_, The adoption of a rule in proportioning Government grants
     to local efforts more flexible, and admitting of far more liberal
     aid in destitute localities, as compared with those which are in
     a better condition.

     '3_d_, The institution, on the part of Government, of an inquiry
     into the destitution confessedly existing in large towns,
     populous neighbourhoods, and remote districts, with a view of
     marking out places where elementary schools are particularly
     needed; and the holding out of special encouragement to whatever
     parties may come forward as willing to plant such schools.

     'That the preceding suggestions, if adopted, would go far to
     render the present Government plan unobjectionable in principle,
     and also to fit it in practice for ascertaining the educational
     wants of the country; but that a much more liberal expenditure of
     the public money would seem to be indispensable, as well as a
     less stringent application, upon adequate cause shown, of the
     rules by which the expenditure is regulated.'

     In bringing the motion forward in the following meeting of
     Presbytery, the clause recommending the 'entire omission in all
     cases of the certificate regarding religious instruction' was
     suffered to drop.

 {9} Such are the proportions laid down in the official document
     for Scotland of the Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council on
     Education. We understand, however, that the Government inspectors
     possess certain modifying powers, through which the Government
     grant is occasionally extended to deserving teachers whose salary
     and fees united fall considerably short of the specified sum of
     forty-five pounds.




CHAPTER FIFTH.


  Unskilled Labourers remunerated at a higher rate than many of
  our Free Church Teachers--The Teaching must be inferior if the
  Remuneration be low--Effect of inferior Teaching on the parties
  taught--Statutory Security; where are the parties to contend for
  it?--Necessity of a Government Inquiry--'O for an hour of
  Knox!'