§ MR. R. H. PAGETasked the Vice President of the Council, If he will be good enough to explain to the House to what extent managers of public elementary schools are to be held responsible for the health of individual scholars under 861 Article 8 of the Educational Code of 1884; whether it is intended that it shall rest with the managers to decide as to the need of withholding individual scholars from examination; whether the action of managers in this respect is to be subject to review by school inspectors; and, what effect such withholding by managers of individual scholars from examination will have upon the merit or other portion of the Government grant?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Question is an important one. It is intended that managers of public elementary schools shall be generally responsible for the conduct of the schools and of the Schoolmasters for issuing directions to the teacher as to not pressing children of weakly constitution, and for seeing that these directions are obeyed. It is obvious that there are two reasons for withholding children from examination—one is for the protection of the child; the other is for the purpose of enabling the school to obtain a larger grant. The first is a very proper object; the other ought to be discouraged. The Department has a right to expect the co-operation of managers in distinguishing between these two classes of cases. If any children are withheld from examination by the teacher and managers, the reasons for so doing will be stated to the Inspector, and it will be for him to judge whether they are satisfactory. The Inspector will be instructed to pay special regard to the representations of the managers, and if they are in this respect overruled by the Inspector they will, of course, have the right to appeal to the Department. It will strengthen the position of teachers, to be supported by their managers in their claims for withdrawals. The effect of improperly withholding individual scholars will be that they will be treated as failures, lint such withdrawal will not affect the merit grant.
§ MR. R. H. PAGETAre we to understand the right hon. Gentleman that if the managers of a school withdraw 8 or 10 per cent under this Article, it will in no way affect the grant—that the Inspector will be in no way entitled to reduce the grant?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo, Sir. I say that the withdrawal will in no respect affect the grant, although withholding from examination may do so.
§ MR. ONSLOWWho is judge of the weakly condition of the children—the manager, the schoolmaster or schoolmistress, or the parents?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI do not know anyone so well able to judge as the local managers and the teachers. It is impossible for the Central Department at Whitehall to judge; and it is because we wish the local managers to exercise some discretion that we have left the matter in the hands of the teachers.
§ MR. R. H. PAGETIf it is to be left to the discretion of the managers, is it to be understood that that discretion is liable to be overruled by the Inspector?
§ MR. MUNDELLAIf the Inspector thinks that scholars have been improperly withheld for the purpose of obtaining an additional grant, he will disallow the claim. The managers have the right to appeal to the Department.