380 THE SCHOOL BOARDS xv 



have not the least practical acquaintance, and for 

 M'iiicli they care nothing, nnless it derives a 

 political value from its connection with sectarian 

 politics? 



I cannot hut think, then, that the School 

 Boards will have the appearance, but not the 

 reality, of freedom of action, in regard to the 

 subject-matter of what is commonly called 

 " secular " education. 



As respects what is commonly called " reli- 

 gious " education, the power of the Minister of 

 Education is even more despotic. An interest, 

 almost amounting to pathos, attaches itself, in my 

 mind, to the frantic exertions which are at present 

 going on in almost every school division, to elect 

 certain candidates whose names have never before 

 been heard of in connection with education, and 

 who are either sectarian partisans, or nothing. In 

 my own particular division, a body organised ad 

 hoc is moving heaven and earth to get the seven 

 seats filled by seven gentlemen, four of whom are 

 good Churchmen, and three no less good Dissent- 

 ers. But why should this seven times heated fiery 

 furnace of theological zeal be so desirous to shed 

 its genial warmth over the London School Board? 

 Can it be that these zealous sectaries mean to 

 evade the solemn pledge given in the Act? 



"No religious catechism or religious formulary wliich is 

 distinctive of any particular denomination shall be taught 

 in the school." 



