HC Deb 07 April 1884 vol 286 cc1811-2
MR. SAMUEL MORLEY

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, If he has investigated the statement that two boys named Haffenden, scholars in the national school at Speldhurst, near Tunbridge Wells, were flogged, in the presence of the entire school, by the master, for having on the previous Sunday, the 2nd March, attended a service in a dissenting chapel in the village; and, if he will report the result to the House?

MR. MUNDELLA

Sir, a formal inquiry into the facts of this case was held on Saturday last by an experienced officer of the Department, when all the parties appeared before him and gave evidence. It was admitted that, in the presence of the clergyman and of his sister-in-law, two boys were beaten before the whole school for having attended a Dissenting chapel. It was also admitted that, after the beating, the clergyman called upon any other boys who had attended the chapel to hold up their hands, and subsequently did the same in the girls' school. He further inquired of each child in turn whether he had attended chapel with the parents' approval, and admonished them, as he says, "to stick to one thing or the other." The two boys who were punished were the sons of the schoolmaster, and were employed in the school as monitors. It is pleaded that the schoolmaster was justified in punishing his own sons for disobeying his orders not to attend chapel. I have no doubt that the whole of this proceeding was improper and inconsistent with the conditions under which; a public elementary school ought to be conducted. The clergyman and his sister-in-law admit their error; and, in justice to the other managers, I must add that what occurred was without their authority or approval. I think the inquiry will have had a beneficial effect and prevent a repetition of such deplorable intolerance. The Department will require from the managers an undertaking that no such interference with the management of the school will again be permitted; and they will be informed that, should it recur, it will not be again overlooked.