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ANGLICAN SCHOOLS' POLICY
THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE.
PARENTS 8EEK REPRESEN
TATION.
For .a long time past there lias been a
strong agitation within' the Anglican
Church for a complete investigation of the
entire educational policy of the church.
To Home extent this agitation was re
flected in a motion passed at the Diocesan
synod in October, referring the work ot
inquiry to a large ahd cumbrous body
known as tha council of the diocese. The
motion, however, only partially revealed
the demand lor (1) a new policy; (2) a
new representative authority; with direct
responsibility to synod and adequate
finance; and (3) a fresh recognition of the
claim of schools upon the revenues of the
Grown land grants made in tiie early days
of the church m Victoria. It is common
knowledge amongst churchmen tint '.'the
starvation'' of the diocc3on board of edu
cation has gone to such a length that to
day the board is powerless to function
eflicientlj or adequately advise the coun
cil of the diocese. Objection jh taken to
the p remit constitution of the board in
some quarters because school masters and
school mistresses and dioiesau officials hsve
a considerable share of the personnel. It
is claimed that no reform will be satis
factory to the church as a whole which
does not provide for a body which aliall
have no financial, professional ' or official
interest in tne policy and administrative
decisions adopted. If, oowever, this ideal
lie found impracticable of attainment, it
is > claimed tuat synod should elect cer
tain lay members who are definitely
charged with the protection of the in
terests of parents— as such.
One of the minor questions which the
suggested investigating committee will be
asked to consider is the competition for
boarders amongst Anglican boys', grammar
schools; and the failure of the board ol
education to induce the schools to pool
their purchases of plant, books, equip
ment, boarding Hupplics, Ac. Thousands
of pounds are said to "be wasted annuali?
because each school is a law unto itself
in all its commercial relations with the
biuuDaia community, bookaellorH, millers,
bakers, butchers, furniture warehouses,
Ac.
A larger question which will be raised
is one of nigh policy. It concerns the
present concentration of the Anglican
Church . upon the provitsou of secondary
schools. A section of the church now seeks
the establishment of a' chain of elcmcnlary
schools throughout the diocese as the only
efficient means of meeting the effects oi
the increasing number of Roman Catholic
elementary schools. . The proposal ia that
these schools shall bo supported by small
fees from parents, dioccsnn grauts and
benefaotions. State aid is neither sug
gested nor ' desirsl.
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