HC Deb 28 February 1881 vol 258 c1858
MR. RATHBONE

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, in order to give more time to prepare reading books for the instruction in certain class subjects, which Article 19, C. 1, of the Code of 1880 requires shall be taught in schools examined after the 30th of September 1881, by means of reading lessons, the Education Department will permit these subjects, when managers prefer the plan, to be taught in harmony with the provisions of the Code of 1879, until after the Government inspection of the school in the year 1882?

MR. MUNDELLA

Sir, we are aware that for some of the class subjects good and suitable reading-books are still wanting; but a considerable number of such books were in existence when the Code of 1880 was issued, and others have been published since that date, and some are in course of publication. Managers who wish special class subjects to be taught in their schools may use these books, or they may continue for the present year to employ as reading-books the manuals, without which class subjects could not be properly taught; and the Inspectors, if satisfied with the result of the instruction, will not refuse to recognize these manuals for the present as satisfying the requirements of the Code.