otestant, established many common schools (1781-
1811) for the benefit of the poor. The cost of carrying them on was
usually met by private contributions. All of these schools gave some
form of denominational religious instruction. As the population
increased many more schools were required. At length Parliament began
(1833) to grant money to help the different religious societies in
maintaining their systems of instruction. When able, the parents of
the children were also called on to pay a small sum weekly. In 1870
the Liberal Government took hold of the education question with great
vigor. It provided that in all cases where the existing Church of
England or other denominational schools were not able to accomodate
the children of a given district, School Boards should be established
to open new schools, which, if necessary, should be maintained
entirely at the public expense. In these "Board Schools," as they
were called, no denominational religious instruction whatever could be
given.

This very important act "placed a school within the reach of every
child," but, except in very poor districts, these schools were not
made free schools; in fact, free schools, in the American sense,
cannot be said to exist in Great Britain. Later on (1880) compulsory
attendance was required, and subsequent acts of Parliament (1902,
1904) transferred the management of these schools from the School
Boards to the Town and County Councils.[1] Again, these new measures
make it practicable for a boy or girl, who has done well in the
primary course, to secure assistance which will open opportunities for
obtaining a higher education. Thus, as a recent writer declares,
"There is now a path leading from the workman's home even to the
University."[2]

[1] But many men and women who belong to the Dissenting Denominations
complain that the Educational Acts of 1870-1904 compel them to pay
taxes for the support of a great number of public elementary schools
which are under the control of the English Church, and furthermore,
that teachers who are members of Dissenting societies, such as the
Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, etc., can seldom, if ever, get
appointments in the class of schools mentioned. Quite a number of
these Dissenters who call themselves "Passive Resisters" have refused
to pay the school tax and have had their property seized or have been
sent to jail year after year.
[2] A.L. Lowell's "The Government of England,"