§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education on what grounds he has refused the request embodied in a resolution of the local education authority of Oxfordshire, that the conditions set out in Article 5 of the Secondary School Regulations should be waived in the case of Burford Grammar School.
§ MR. McKENNAArticle 5 provides that no catechism or formulary distinctive of any particular denomination shall be taught except to scholars whose parents or guardians have requested the governors in writing to provide such instruction. The Board are satisfied that under the scheme regulating the foundation there is no legal difficulty in complying with the Article. The onus of adducing adequate reasons for the waiving of this regulation rests with the governors, and, in my opinion, no special reasons for failing to comply have been shown.
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONHave no complaints been received from the neighbourhood?
§ MR. McKENNAIf everybody is contented to receive the instruction it will be given. The regulation is only a safeguard for those persons who do not wish it to be given.