§ MR. WINTERBOTHAMsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Council, Whether the power of withdrawal during the time of religious instruction given by the Time Table Conscience Clause in the Government Amendments authorize withdrawal from the school during that time, or only withdrawal from the lesson?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI must point out to my hon. and learned Friend the actual wording of the time-table clause. It has been carefully worded, and it is intended to carry out its exact meaning. The last line of that clause says—
The scholar may be withdrawn by his parents from such observance or instruction without forfeiting any other benefit of the school,1703 such, instruction being instruction in religious subjects. The power of withdrawal is withdrawal from the instruction, not from the school. Of course, the clause must have that interpretation; but the way in which it will practically work will be this—that if the school is so managed that the child can be put to other instruction—as, for instance, sent to another class-room, then it will be in the power of the managers to send the child to that other instruction; whereas, if the school is so arranged that it would be impossible for him to be withdrawn from the religious instruction without being withdrawn from the school, then the child will be withdrawn from the school.