SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND). (Hansard, 11 May 1838)

Mr. Wallace
moved an amendment—"That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the system and management of Parochial Schools in Scotland, and to report before a grant of public money is made for the endowment of additional schools." He was induced to make this motion as the existing system required many alterations and improvements.

§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer
thought, the hon. Member would have been convinced of the necessity of this measure, if the hon. Member had had an opportunity of hearing the statements of the deputation which had pressed the subject on his attention, composed of gentlemen from all parts of Scotland. He had been asked to place the schools which it was proposed to establish by this Bill under the regulation of the General Assembly, but he preferred abiding by the old Scottish parochial system. It was true, that that system was defective in many particulars; he believed, that was admitted by all parties. A good normal seminary for the instruction of the masters of parochial schools was much wanted in Scotland, and it was also to be wished, that the school-books used should be published at a cheaper rate. As to the permanent appointment of the masters, he thought such a system very inexpedient, particularly where the persons selected belonged to the humbler classes. But he could not allude to the system without acknowledging the benefits which it had conferred on Scotland. It had given to that part of the empire a great ascendancy as regarded education. He could not consent to any motion which might involve a principle adverse to that on which the Scottish parochial system of education was 1167 founded, and therefore he objected to the proposition of the hon. Member. He did not ask hon. Gentlemen, in agreeing to the second reading of this bill, to affirm the principle of the parochial system of Scotland in all its parts; but what he wanted was, an extension of that system, so that what was adopted in one part of a parish might be also followed in every other part of it. On that ground, therefore, he trusted the House would not object to the second reading.

§ Mr. Gillon
was opposed to the bill, and would move, that it be read a second time that day six months, for he could not consent to the principle which would be affirmed if they proceeded with the second reading at once. He objected to any grant of public money being made in aid of a system so defective as that of the parochial system of Scotland. If any grant were made, the most desirable mode would be, to leave it to the management of the Treasury, or of a board, which might be easily appointed, at Edinburgh; and if that were done, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would satisfy all parties in Scotland.

Mr. Colquhoun
admitted, that the parochial system was as bad as it had been described to be, but that only rendered it more necessary that the same measure of justice which had been given to England should be dealt out to Scotland with respect to the subject of education. He complained, that although a sum of 6,000l. had been granted in the year 1836, and had been declared from the Throne in 1837 to have been paid for the endowment of forty-one schools in the Highlands, yet no such sum had been really appropriated to this purpose. He considered, that the present Bill was the only means of securing the object in view.

§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer
explained by saying, that they intended to have applied to the Church Commission, which had been appointed to superintend the building of churches in these forty-one parishes, for information on this subject, as to the best mode of establishing those schools, but, at that time, the Commission had ceased to exist, and it had been since proposed to found schools of a different kind. He had introduced this Bill in redemption of his pledge to do all in his power for the establishment and maintenance of education in Scotland.

§ Mr. Langdale
said, that there was a number of districts in the Highlands and 1168 Western Isles of Scotland, in which a majority of the inhabitants were Catholics. In the isle of Barra, of which the population was 13,000 souls, there were not more than 150 Protestants. He therefore now gave notice, that if this Bill should pass a second reading, he would, when it went into Committee, propose a clause, that in the schools of all large parishes, where a majority of the inhabitants did not belong to the Church of Scotland, the children should not be compelled to learn the catechism of that Church.

§ Sir G. Clerk
said, that perfect freedom existed on this point already in Scotland, and that, whenever the parents of a child expressed a wish to that effect, he was not obliged to learn the assembly catechism.

Mr. Wallace
withdrew his amendment, on the understanding that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would grant a Committee on the subject.

§ Mr. Gillon
moved as an amendment that the bill be read a second time that day six months.

List of the AYES.
Abercromby, hon. G. R.	Holmes, W.
Adam, Admiral	Hope, G. W.
Alsager, Captain	Houstoun, G.
Bagge, W.	Hughes, W. B.
Bailey, J.	Hutt, W.
Beamish, F. B.	Ingham, R.
Bentinck, Lord G.	Inglis, Sir R. H.
Blackstone, W. S.	Johnstone, H.
Blair, J.	Kemble, H.
Brotherton, J.	Lockhart, A. M.
Bruges, W. H. L.	Lowther, J. H.
Burroughes, H. N.	Mackenzie, T.
Clerk, Sir G.	Mackenzie, W. F.
Cole, Lord Visct.	Macleod, R.
Colquhoun, J. C.	Martin, J.
Craig, W. C.	Melgund, Lord Visct.
Darby, G.	Meynell, Captain
Davies, Col.	Miles, P. W. S.
De Horsey, S. H.	Morgan, C. M. R.
Douglas, Sir C. E.	Morpeth, Lord Visct.
Dundas, Capt. D.	Morris, D.
Egerton, Sir P.	Murray, rt. hn. J. A.
Elliot, hon. J. E.	Parker, J.
Evans, Sir De L.	Perceval, Colonel
Fergusson, rt. hn. C.	Perceval, hon. G. J.
Filmer, Sir E.	Pringle, A.
Gaskell, Jas. Milnes	Protheroe, E.
Glynne, Sir S. R.	Pusey, P.
Gordon, R.	Rice, rt. hn. T. S.
Grimsditch, T.	Richards, R.
Hepburn, Sir T. B.	Rolfe, Sir R. M.
Hinde, J. H.	Rose, rt. hn. Sir G.
Hodgson, R.	Round, C. G.

Rushbrooke, Colonel	Williams, W.
Sheppard, T.	Williams, W. A.
Sinclair, Sir G.	Winnington, H. J.
Style, Sir C.	Young, Sir W.
Talfourd, Mr. Serg.
Trevor, hon. G. R.	TELLERS.
Vivian, rt. hn. Sir R.	Maule, F.
Waddington, H. S.	Steuart, R.

List of the NOES.
Aglionby, H. A.	Salwey, Colonel
Baines, E.	Scholefield, J.
Dundas, C. W. D.	Strickland, Sir G.
Howard, P. H.	Vigors, N. A.
Langdale, hon. C.
Marsland, H.	TELLERS.
Pechell, Capt.	Gillon, Mr.
Philips, M.	Dennistoun, J.