§ MR. BARRANasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been called to a statement which appeared in the "Leeds Mercury" and other papers, to the effect that at Boston Spa, near Leeds, a little girl was expelled from the national school, which is in receipt of a Government grant, for omitting to curtsey to the clergyman's wife in the street; and, whether the refusal of this act of obeisance is a sufficient justification for depriving the child of the means of education at the only public school within her reach?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, I had not heard of the case to which the Question refers till I saw it on the Notice Paper on Saturday, and nothing is known of it in the Education Department, nor has any communication reached us about it. It is obvious, therefore, that I should not be justified in giving an opinion upon a supposed case; but it may be well to mention that, considering the present law makes attendance at school or being 500 able to pass certain educational Standards the necessary conditions of labour for children, we discourage, as far as is in our power, the use of expulsion from school as a punishment for school offences. If the hon. Gentleman has any personal acquaintance with the facts of this case, or of any similar local school difficulties, and will kindly call upon me at the Office, or communicate with me in the first instance upon the subject, I shall be happy to consider the matters with him, and I doubt not we shall be able to settle them satisfactorily without encroaching upon the time of Parliament.
§ MR. BARRANasked, whether the noble Lord would cause any inquiries to be made into the matter? He should not have brought the matter before the House, unless he had received some authentic information on the subject.
§ VISCOUNT SANDONrepeated, that if the hon. Gentleman would call upon him at the Education Department, they would endeavour to come to some settlement of the matter.
§ MR. BARRANgave Notice of his intention to return to the subject.