South Yorkshire Times, October 21st 1944
Conisbrough Vicar’s Comments
Sequel to Education Committee Meeting
Comments of the Vicar of Conisbrough in his Parish Magazine on the press report of the proceedings at the September meeting of the local Education Sub-Committee caused discussion at last Thursday’s meeting of the Committee.
Mr. H. Gomersall presided and read from the magazine the Vicar’s comments on “Local Educationists.”
Mrs. Oldfield asked how it was that the Vicar could pull the Committee to pieces over what happened at the last meeting before a report of the meeting had appeared in the press, and she would like to know where he got his information from. It looked as though there was a leakage somewhere.
Mr. Gomersall said she was placing the press representative in an awkward position because he was in the room but was not permitted to take part in any discussion or make any comments. What he would like to know was why was not the Vicar present? If he was interested in education, he would have been present. He could not understand the Vicar’s comments and he considered them uncalled for and provocative. Why was the expression “Politicians first and educationists afterwards” used? Mr. Gomersall said he had been on the Committee for many years, and he was all out for the free passage of scholars from the kindergarten to the university, and he could not quite follow the emphasis which the Vicar had put on the expression.
“I have always said” he went on, “that politics should never enter into the business of this Committee and have always tried to have this end in view. Ministers of religion should be on the Committee; nobody has ever objected to them being on. Nine months ago, I commented on their absence from meetings of this Committee and it has been worse since then. If they are interested in education they should attend, but they have not attended. The Vicar suggests that all denominations should be represented on the Committee but that would be rather a big thing. If three more representatives do not represent the spiritual side, what do they want? The Vicar says they probably represent more people than three officially elected, but do they? And if they do what do these people think of their representatives? He says he is interested in the souls and minds of the people; well, we are catering for the children’s education which is the same thing. With regard to ministers of religion being qualified in the subject of education, I agree and have no axe to grind on that point. With regard to education being controlled by a party caucus, I have always emphasised that this Committee is not controlled by a party caucus. The Vicars have served for many years on the Committee but some of them have found time to attend the meetings. The Vicar has told us that he will alter the time of his psychology class in order to be able to attend this meeting, but he has been going to do this for two years now. If a minister of religion is prepared to be appointed to the Committee, he should attend: if not he should stand down.”
Only Free Church Not Represented
Mr. D. Sheldon said that if all denominations were brought on to the Committee, there was only the Free Church left to be brought on, and there would be no room for two vicars. “The Vicar says he probably represents more people than we do, but he can only represent the churchgoers. If he means parishioners, that’s allright. He says that ministers of religion have no political axes to grind as a rule, which means they may have. He has condemned himself. They may be better qualified but they are not necessarily the best administrators. He is taking advantage of his Parish Magazine.
Mr. Cheshire said he was sorry the Vicar had used this method. It would have been better if he had attended. The Vicars were co-opted because it was felt they would be useful, but in not attending they were refusing the Committee the right to put on somebody else who would work. “I still say of the Church of England with regard to education that they have a lot of leeway to make up, and it is time they put their house in order.”
Mr. B. Roberts said he was sorry that this had arisen, and he thought it should have been dealt with in a different way. They should have asked for reasons. He himself had not been able to attend many meetings, and was working when the last meeting took place. He would understand the Chairman being upset about what was printed in the magazine but he thought the matter could have been dealt with in a more friendly spirit. “Probably the Vicar has misunderstood what was said at the last meeting. We like the spiritual side to be represented at this Committee.”
The Chairman: I don’t agree with Mr. Roberts’ remarks. I called attention to the matter nine months ago, and at the next meeting both culprits put in an attendance but after that they dropped off again. At the last meeting one member made certain statements, but this reply of the Vicar hits me and everyone else. I hope the matter will close now.
The Clerk was instructed to get the figures of the attendances of the ministers of religion.
DAMAGE AT SCHOOL
A letter was read from the headmaster at the Station Road schools, referring to the wanton damage caused by the school premises by people using the school for dancing, and asked the Committee to insist on proper supervision or alternatively to allow fewer lettings. It was decided that in future the dances would be held in mid-week, while the school was in session, and that the promoters of dances would be held responsible for any damaged committed. The scale of charges is to be reviewed with a view to the cost of damage being equally borne by all the promoters.
Mr. Sheldon reported that at a recently meeting of the Mexborough Secondary School Governors he was shocked to learn from the headmaster that 14 children in the Conisbrough area had been “refused” scholarships, but he was pleased to report that he had investigated each case and found that they had all be transferred to neighbouring secondary schools.
Magazine Mention
What the Vicar Wrote
The extract from the Conisbrough Church Magazine to which reference was made at the meeting was as follows: –
Our Local Educationists – It seems to be the custom, judging by a press report, of the Education Sub-Committee’s discussions at the last meeting to ask whether one Vicar should automatically follow his predecessor as a member of this Committee. Now Mr. Powley, the erstwhile Vicar of Denaby, has left, it becomes necessary to fill some of the vacancies thus caused. Should the new Vicar of Denaby take his place? When Conisbrough was vacant the same question was asked then. I can quite understand that somebody who had to fight an election to get on the Urban District Council should want to know why certain people should be co-opted automatically to the Education Sub-Committee. At the same time if the Vicars of Conisbrough and Denaby were not appointed two other people would have to be co-opted. The whole idea of co-option is to give the Council a chance of working with people who might be useful, but who have not passed successfully through the fires of an election. Further, co-option gives chance to invite the assistance of people who are not politicians first and educationists afterwards. I think it would be a great mistake if education became the cockpit of politics. It is good that ministers of religion should be on committees, especially education committees. I would like to see all denominations represented. After all, we probably represent more people than those officially elected. In any case we have no political axes to grind, as a rule. We are interested first and foremost in the souls of our people, or, as it is called today, the minds of the people. Further some of us have taken the trouble to qualify ourselves in this great subject of education, in case we were ever called upon to serve in some administrative capacity. I think it is a great mistake, whatever the party, that education in any area should be controlled entirely by a party caucus. The fact that for so many years the two Vicars in the urban area have been asked to serve on the sub-committee proves that other people have the same idea.”
Vicar Replies
To Be Present at Next Meeting
The Rev. G. Needham, Vicar of Conisbrough, invited to express his views on the points raised at the meeting of Conisbrough Education Committee last Thursday, made the following statement: –
“What a pity Mr. Gomersall did not follow the wise suggestion of Mr. B. Roberts. It would have saved a lot of hot air. Mr. Gomersall admits that he did not understand my comments. Isn’t it rather foolish to declaim against something you don’t understand? Political sagacity is never drawn into putting a cap on its head, all the while protesting that the cap does not fit. Anyhow I do understand what Mr. Gomersall is getting at, which is more than I can say for Mr. Sheldon’s remarks. All being well, I intend to be present at the next meeting so perhaps he will explain his point in more lucid English.
“I have not accused Mr. Gomersall of showing party bias at sub-committee meetings. As far I am aware I have not accused him, or any other member, of anything they need be ashamed of. I made a general statement which applies to all sub-committees in the county, whatever the party, but this is the first time I have ever read of a politician who disavowed that he was political. Is Mr. Gomersall ashamed of being a member of the Labour Party? If he were not a member, he would not be Chairman of the Education Sub-Committee. He knows this as well as I do. What, then, is he trying to say when he declares that this committee is not controlled by a party caucus? What would be the point of fighting for political power if the successful party did not control all the committees? Why, then, deny it and pretend that I have insulted him and other members? If he means that at meetings, he has allowed others who differed to express their point of view. I agree with him. Have I ever said that he did not do this?
“Politicians” and “Educationists”
Mr. Gomersall is hurt and confused by my statement that some people are not politicians first and educationists afterwards. Surely this is a most obvious truism. Doesn’t he know of anyone for instance who might be very interested in education, but not very concerned about politics? Some of the clergy are like this. It is strictly true to say of these people that they are not politicians first and educationists afterwards.