Aprit 19.
There seems to be little doubt that one of the most anxiously dis~ cussed problems coming before the consideration of the new Shanghai Municipal Council will arise from consideration of the Report of the Special Education Committee on Policy in Regard to Foreign Schools. It certainly cannot be disposed of by enthusiastic critics of the "three Rs" school of thought, Nor is it feasible for the Council to accept in the matter of education that sweeping definition of responsibility which would be appropriate in a homo-generous community untrammelled by peculiar racial and political dim culties. The Special Committee was admittedly appointed to investigate "the financial necessity of calling a halt to increasing expenditure upon education which has approximately doubled since 1930." The other factor in the situation caiting for its appointment was the doubt "whether the Council's existing educational policy resulted in a fair distribution among the various sections of the community of the money spent upon education, whether in the maintenance of Council schools or in grants-in= aid", No educational issue was volved here, No educational expert, as such, was appointed to the Committee. It had, of course, the advantage of the advice of' the Council's experts on Education, Its Report shows that its members, charged mainly to deal with finance, wore not afraid to express certain views on the general question of responsibility for educational facilities under the Council's auspices: "Uhere a moral obligation to provide respect of those groups which are unor= ized or whose economic eircumstanees prevent them from est= tional schools." Tt could yore comprehensive view of the problem for its terms of reference were exceedingly limited. Nevertheless the Report is a docment on the basis of which the whole question of the Council's 1 policy may be fruit. the present policy? The Couuneil in 1931 accepted this de~ finition by its Education Boat suitable for the Hhikdeen of residents inthe Interna tional Settlement and. those who directly or indirectly contribute the rates, irrespective of nationality, This docs not imply that the Coun= cil devs or should assume sole Fesponsibility "for this provision, The Council welcomes the establish= of schools by national groups, philanthropic or religious or by properly qualified als he Council will continue te provide and maintain cipal Schools both for Chinese and Foreign children.
The proposals of the Special Educa tion Commitice can be made fo fit this policy. In 1982 the decision to form a distinel section of the Municipal accounts for education showed the trend of a Iegitimate anxiety lest the burden on the rates should be too heavy. In 1934 the separation of the jugation from the General Budget with a 2 per cent. rate limit on educational expenditure was approved by the Ratepayers. Now the Council is being recommended to fake further steps in limitation of its commitments by eliminating from its responsibility the children of the I foreign community which not so completely
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.