HC Deb 13 June 1882 vol 270 cc977-8
MR. HEALY

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been called to a letter of the clerk to the Leeds School Board, of the 14th June 1881, addressed to the Spelling Reform Association, as follows:— The Inspector of the Board has repeatedly examined those schools in which the Phonic method is carried out, and Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools has on several occasions expressed his approval of the method and his satisfaction at the results. The method was lately adopted by an infants' school teacher with marked success, showing that the method is easy of acquirement and fruitful in its results; And, whether the Education Department can do anything to facilitate the teaching of children to read under the method therein recommended?

MR. MUNDELLA

I have seen the letter to which the hon. Member refers. Mr. Legard, Her Majesty's Inspector, expresses his satisfaction with the results of the Phonic method of teaching reading in certain infant schools at Leeds. He states that no change is introduced in the mode of spelling; but that the different vowel sounds are distinguished by a variety of marks, which greatly facilitate the teaching of reading to young children. Although the Department is willing that new educational experiments shall have a fair trial, we do not feel justified in prescribing the Phonic or any other method. "We shall not, however, discourage it; and we believe that if the system is sound it will make its way, as there is no lack of enterprize on the part of school boards, managers, and teachers, all of whom are interested in arriving at the highest results by the best methods.