HC Deb 23 March 1871 vol 205 cc456-7
LORD JOHN MANNERS

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether it is intended, under the New Code, to grant the allowances to managers of schools promised by Article 90 of the Revised Code, for pupil teachers who have been apprenticed before the appearance of the New Code?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

replied that it was not intended under the New Code to grant the allowances mentioned in Article 90 of the Revised Code, because such allowances were considered unnecessary, in consequence of the increased grants under the New Code.

MR. SAMUELSON

asked, Whether the report in a weekly paper is accurate that the right hon. Gentleman stated in reply to a deputation of school teachers, that schoolmasters would not be promoted to the office of Assistant Inspectors of Schools?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

said, he was glad the question had been asked. He had seen the statement in two or three newspapers, but he did not think he had ever made it to any deputation, and he certainly had not intended to make it. It was intended that assistant Inspectors should be appointed out of the schoolmasters on the recommendation of the Inspectors, and the limit of age reduced from 35 to 30. The requirement that they must have been pupil-teachers was not now necessary, if they were certificated masters who had passed an examination.

MR. ST. AUBYN

asked, Whether School Boards have power to compel the attendance of children within their districts without levying a Rate for the provision of schools?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

said, that by the Elementary Education Act a school board could be elected for any school district, whether there was educational deficiency in such district or not, by a resolution of town councils in case of boroughs, and of ratepayers in case of districts other than boroughs. Such a school board would have all the powers given under the Act to school boards, one of which was to make bylaws for compulsory attendance. It would not be necessary in order to pass those bylaws that a rate should be levied for the provision of schools; but in all cases a rate must be levied where there was educational deficiency.