Land Problems and National Welfare 



tional efficiency. 



Just before the Act of igo2 less money was 

 bcingexpended perchild in church schoolsthan in 

 board schools, and according to many authorities 

 the standard of teachers was lower, a natural 

 consequence of their being paid less. There was 

 every indication that the system of voluntary 

 schools was no longer workable, and that a great 

 national system of schools under one control 

 was necessary if England wished to keep her 

 place in the world of education. 



Mr. Balfour's Act provided this single control, 

 and greatly improved the administrative side of 

 our system, but it is regrettable that it did not 

 boldly put an end to every vestige of the dual 

 system. On the contrary, it attempted to prop 

 up the voluntary schools, and herein is to be 

 found the root of the evils from which we are 

 now suffering. 



When the church schools were really voluntary, 

 though assisted by State grants, in practice very 

 few Nonconformists objected to the religious 

 teaching being Church of England in character ; 

 but their attitude changed at once when they 

 had to contribute directly by the rates for the 

 support of church schools, and actively to sup- 

 port the religious teaching in which formerly 

 they had only passively acquiesced. 



Hence the country is suffering from a religious 

 and political dispute, which is carried on by the 



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