Referring to my Despatch N
o 70, of
16th May, I have the honor
to forward for Your Lordship's information printed Copies of
"Rules and Regulations for the management and government of
Common Schools," which I have
approved approved in Council under the
provisions of the "Common School amendment Ordinance,
1870." I
think these will practically for the present answer the purpose
of the "Conscience Clause" which Your Lordship suggested should
be added to the Original Ordinance of
1869.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Herbert
See Governor's despatch 13269 & minutes attached.
They seem good regulations for the purposes of the Colony.
Acknowledge at once.
I think some of these rules will be strongly objected to by [ruf
hrerbrile?]
portions of the population.
Mr Monsell
I don't quite see why, as any pupil may be withdrawn from the
religious exercises, unless secular schools would have been
preferred, but perhaps I fail to seize the point.
I only recd this
today. It should have been sent to me before.
Lord Kimberley
I think that common prayer in mixed schools will be objected to
in
B. Columbia for the same reason that it is objected to in
Ireland—as you are aware it is prohibited by the N. Board.
I observe that scripture lessons & lessons on the truth of
Xstianity are among the books to be used in
the Common schools during the hours of united instruction.
It was because the National Board prohibited this that
archbishop
Whitely L. Blackburn left the Board.
I think the Irish Conscience clause much better than the
proposed one.
It is probable that
B Columbia will soon join
the Dominion of
Canada.
It might perhaps be well, as our responsibility for
B. Columbia
legislation will then cease, to keep the education Question open
until then.
Could the rules under consideration be sanctioned for one or two
years?
On the whole I think it will be best not to interfere with
these regulations as the Colony will so soon come under a new
Government, but I would point out the objections to the Governor.