Minute respecting the Management Clauses of School Deeds. 25 MINUTE respecting the MANAGEMENT CLAUSES of SCHOOL DEEDS. Read, a letter from the Secretary of the National Society, dated May 12, 1846. Read also, a letter from the Secretary of this Committee to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, dated September 29, 1846. Read, the reply of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, as President of the National Society, to the Secretary's Letter, dated November 23, 1846. Ordered, that this Correspondence be now entered on the Minutes of this Committee. SIR, National Society's Office, Sanctuary, Westminster, THE Committee of the National Society have had under their consideration certain clauses marked A, B, C, and D, which are recommended by the Committee of Council for insertion in the trustdeeds of schools, as a proper provision for the management of schools. The Committee of the National Society are desirous that the promoters of education throughout the country should have the same liberty of choice as to the constitution of their schools which has hitherto been conceded to them, both by the Committee of Council and the National Society. The Committee of the National Society, however, are prepared to concur with the Committee of Council in recommending the above clauses to applicants for aid, it being understood that the applicants may select the clause most adapted to their own case. The Committee of the National Society at the same time would suggest the following modification, which appears more perfectly to embody the intention of the Committee of Council, as well as that of the National Society; viz., for the words "The minister, for the time being, of the said or in his absence his curate, shall have the superintendence of the religious instruction of the scholars attending the said school," read "The minister, for the time being, of the said or in his absence his curate, shall have the moral and religious superintendence of the said school." The Secretary, Committee of I have, &c. W. J. KENNEDY, Secretary. MY LORD ARCHBISHOP, Committee of Council on Education, Council I AM directed by the Committee of Council on Education to state, that their Lordships, on their appointment as members of the Committee, found, amongst other business awaiting their decision, the letter addressed to their Lordships from the Committee of the National Society, dated the 12th of May. Since the close of the last session of Parliament, my Lords have been enabled to give their attention to the suggestions offered by the National Society, in this letter, respecting the clauses marked A, B, C, and D, which have been recommended by the Committee of Council for insertion in the trust-deeds of schools, as a proper provision for their management. These clauses were founded on the terms of union, published by the National Society, as conditions of its connexion with Parochial schools. But my Lords do not hesitate, as suggested by the Committee of the National Society, to extend the superintendence of the minister to the moral as well as to the religious instruction in the school. They therefore propose that instead of the words "The minister, for the time being, or in his absence his licensed curate, shall have the superintendence of the religious instruction of the scholars attending the said school," the clause shall read "The minister, for the time being, and in his absence his licensed curate, shall have the superintendence of the moral and religious instruction of the scholars attending the said school." The arrangements made for the management of schools now in course of erection may greatly promote or impede further measures for their improvement. My Lords are therefore desirous that no doubt should exist that the National Society are prepared to employ their influence with the promoters of parochial schools on all occasions, to procure the adoption of the clauses, relating to the management of schools, on the approval of which they have, in their letter of the 12th of May, declared their concurrence with the Committee of Council on Education. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, I have, &c. J. P. KAY SHUTTLEWORTH. SIR, Lambeth, November 23, 1846. I HAVE been requested by the Committee of the National Society to express their satisfaction that the Committee of Council, in providing forms of trust-deed for Church schools, have consented to extend the superintendence of the clergyman to the moral as well as the religious instruction of the scholars; and I am authorized to state, that they approve of the terms in which that provision is expressed. The Committee consider this clause as a security for the due prominence of religious teaching; and that they entertain a sanguine hope, that under its influence the clergy and their respectable parishioners will cordially co-operate for the religious, moral, and intellectual advancement of the children of the poor; and that by these means such a practical and effective education will be diffused throughout the country, as the Committee of Council and the National Society would be equally desirous to promote. The Committee request me to repeat the expression of their desire, that the promoters of education throughout the country should have the same liberty of choice, as to the constitution of their schools, as has hitherto been conceded to them, both by the Committee of Council and by the National Society. The Committee of the National Society are, however, prepared to employ their influence in recommending the clauses marked A, B, C, and D to applicants for aid, it being understood that the applicants may select the clause most adapted to their own case. In the terms of Union established by the National Society, and on which the Committee of Council have grounded the above clauses, it is provided that the masters and mistresses of National Schools shall be members of the Established Church, a provision which is obviously necessary, and which is indeed substantially included in your various forms of trust-deed for National Schools, all of which require that the said "school shall be always in union with the National Society and conducted according to its principles." At the same time, as instances have occurred in which this provision has been overlooked, the Committee of the National Society would suggest that it should be embodied in the trust-deed. James P. Kay Shuttleworth, Esq. I remain, &c. W. CANTUAR. Resolved, That in pursuance of this Correspondence the Secretary be instructed, in communicating with applicants for aid for the erection of School Buildings for Church-of-England Schools, to recommend the adoption in each case of such one of the abovementioned Management Clauses as may appear most suitable to the character and numbers of the population of the School District, as affording means for the selection of persons competent and willing to act as school-managers. That, for the guidance of the Secretary in his correspondence, the Committee are of opinion that, in populous districts of towns in which the intelligent and wealthy inhabitants are numerous, it is expedient to recommend the adoption of the Management Clause A. And subject to and in conformity with the declaration aforesaid, the said school and premises, and (where no other disposition is made) the funds or endowments thereof, shall be directed, controlled, governed, and managed, in manner hereinafter specified, that is to say, the minister for the time being of the said or in his absence his curate, shall have the superintendence of the moral and religious instruction of the scholars attending the said school; and in case any difference should arise between the said minister and curate and the Committee of Management hereinafter mentioned, respecting the religious instruction of the scholars or any regulation connected therewith, the said minister or curate or any member of the said Committee of Management may cause a statement of the matter in difference to be laid before the Bishop of the diocese in writing, a copy of such statement having been previously communicated to the said Committee of Management and also to the minister or curate if not prepared by him; the said Bishop may inquire concerning and determine the matter in difference, and the decision of the Bishop in writing thereon when laid before the Committee of Management shall be final and conclusive upon the matter. But in all other respects the management, direction, control, and government of the said school and premises, and of the funds or endowments thereof, and the selection, appointment, and dismissal of the schoolmaster and schoolmistress, and their assistants, shall be vested in and exercised by a Committee consisting of the minister of the said for the time being, his licensed curate or curates, if the minister shall appoint him or them upon the said Committee, the churchwardens for the time being if members of the Church of England, and of other persons members of the Church of England, residents or having a beneficial interest to the extent of a life estate at the least in real property, situated in the said and subscribers in the current year to the amount of twenty shillings at the least to the said school; the said last-mentioned persons to be elected annually in the month of by subscribers to per the said school to the amount of annum at the least, and qualified in other respects as the persons to be elected. Provided always, that no default of election or vacancy during any current year shall prevent the other members of the Committee from acting until the next annual election, or until the vacancy shall be otherwise supplied. And I do hereby declare that no person shall be appointed or shall continue to be master or mistress in the said school who is not a member of the Church of England. The minister shall be chairman of all meetings of the Committee of Management, if present, and when not present any other member of the Committee selected by the members present shall preside, and in case of an equality of votes the chairman for the time being shall have a second or casting vote. The Committee shall annually select from among its members one to act as secretary, who shall keep minutes of the proceedings in a book to be provided for that purpose, and shall give due notice to all the Committee before any extraordinary meeting. And the said Committee of Management shall have power from time to time in the month of to select and appoint a Committee of not more than ladies, being members of the Church of England, to assist them in the visitation and management of the Girls' and Infant Schools, which Ladies' Committee shall remain in office until the close of the current year. Resolved, That in school districts in towns and villages in which the well-educated and wealthy classes may be less numerous, and in rural parishes having not less than 500 inhabitants, with at least three or more resident gentlemen, or intelligent yeomen, manufacturers, or tradesmen, the Secretary be instructed to suggest the adoption of Clause B. And subject to and in conformity with the declaration aforesaid, the said school and premises, and, where no other disposition is made, the funds or endowments thereof, shall be directed, controlled, governed, and managed, in manner hereinafter specified, that is to say, the minister for the time being of the said or in his absence his curate, shall have the superintendence of the moral and religious instruction of the scholars attending the said school; and in case any difference should arise between the said minister and curate and the Committee of Management hereinafter mentioned, respecting the religious instruction of the scholars, or any regulation connected therewith, the said minister or curate, or any member of the said Committee of Management, may cause a statement of the matter in difference to be laid before the Bishop of the diocese in writing, a copy of such statement having been previously communicated to the said Committee of Management, and also to the minister or curate, if not prepared by him; the said Bishop may inquire concerning and determine the matter in difference, and the decision of the Bishop in writing thereon, when laid before the said Committee of Management, shall be final and conclusive upon the matter. But in all other respects the management, direction, control, and government of the said school and premises, and of the funds or endowments thereof, and the selection, appointment, and dismissal of the schoolmaster and schoolmistress, and their assistants, shall be vested in and exercised by a committee consisting of the minister of the said for the time being, his licensed curate or curates, if the minister shall appoint him or them upon the said committee, and of whom the following shall be the first appointed: persons, of the said last-mentioned persons continuing to be members of the Church of England, and residents, or to have a beneficial interest to the extent of a life estate, at the least, in real property situated in the said ', and to be subscribers in the current year to the amount of twenty shillings at the least to the said school; and any vacancy which may occur in the number of persons last mentioned by death, resignation, incapacity, or otherwise, shall be filled up by the election of a person or persons having a like qualification, such election to be vested in the subscribers to the said schools, to the amount of at the least to the said school, and qualified in other respects as the person to be elected: Provided that no default of election or vacancy shall prevent the other members of the committee from acting until the vacancy shall be otherwise supplied. And I do hereby declare that no person shall be appointed or shall continue to be master or mistress in the said school who is not a member of the Church of England. The minister shall be chairman of all meetings of the Committee of Management if present, and when not present any other member of the committee selected by the members present shall preside; and in case of an equality of votes, the chairman for the time being shall have a second or casting vote. The committee shall annually select from among its members one to act as secretary, who shall keep minutes of the proceedings in a book to be provided for that purpose, and shall give due notice to all the committee before any extraordinary meeting. And the said Committee of Management shall have power from time to time in the month of to select and appoint a committee of not more than ladies, being members of the Church of England, to assist them in visitations and management of the Girls' and Infant Schools, |