HC Deb 22 March 1877 vol 233 cc318-9
MR. HEYGATE

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether expostulations have not been addressed to the Education Department in reference to the requirements specified in the Third Schedule attached to the New Code, as follows:— Needlework, Infants' Department, First Standard, 3 to 5 (probable age). To show any garment which can be made entirely by these, e. g. a child's common pinafore; and what reply has been given to such expostulations?

MR. SAMPSON LLOYD

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether he has not received objections from various quarters complaining of the excessive nature of the requirements of the New Code in respect of "Needlework" in the Infants' Department; and, whether, in consequence of such objections, it is proposed to modify such requirements?

VISCOUNT SANDON

I thought I had fully explained to the House two days ago that we had arranged that no change whatever should be made in the instruction in needlework during the next year—that is to say, till after March, 1878—the object being that we may have the advantage of receiving criticisms on the Needlework Schedule published in this year's Code during the next 12 months, so that modifications or improvements may, if necessary, be made in the Schedule in the Code of next year. Children, therefore, need not be instructed in accordance with the Needlework Schedule till after the issue of the Code of 1878, as that Schedule will only affect the examinations of the following year.