Show BRITISH MINISTER OP EDUCATION A position ot much prominence and bome embarrassment Is that occupied by the kight honorable augustine birrell minister ot education in the new liberal cabinet in great britain to his lot it tell to introduce the education bill which may be described having given moderate to the nonconformists alarmed churchmen and Is fiercely attacked by the labor party who desire that education shall be entirely secular under its provisions full public control la taken of all schools religious tests for teachers are abolished and the local education authority becomes responsible for the maintenance of the fabric of the non provided schools provision Is also made tor non denominational teaching in schools on two mornings in the week should four fifths of the parents desire it non teaching may be given every day on all sides the measure Is described as weak and vacillating the father of mr birrell was a 1st minister of the baptist persuasion at liverpool his mother was the daughter of an edinburgh clergyman and he himself Is a nonconformist of the sternest type one of his first speeches in parliament where he represented west fife was in support of mr labouchere s opposition on the royal grant question the scope of the inquiry might be restricted said mr birrell but you could not restrict the sphere of mens reflections |