HC Deb 18 July 1889 vol 338 cc724-6
MR. T. E. ELLIS

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that the number of children of school age in the parish of Llangar, County of Merioneth, is 193; and that, although five-sixths of these are children of Nonconformists, the only State-aided school in the parish is owned and managed by the society for teaching the children of the poor in the principles of the Church of England, which, up to April 1887, was maintained by the voluntary rate; is he aware that, on 30th May 1887, 60 children of parents who refused to pay the voluntary rate were expelled from the school, and that, since June 1887, the average attendance at this school has been about 30; can he explain why the Education Department has refused to sanction the use of the only room in the village for a temporary school for the expelled children, or to allow the School Board elected in August 1887 to levy any rate for providing a new school; and, whether the Education Department has yet sanctioned the new school built by voluntary subscription, and according to plans submitted to, and approved by, the Department.

* THE VICE PEESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION (Sir W. HART DYKE,) Kent, Dartford

The facts as to elementary education in this parish are not accurately stated in the question. Sufficient accommodation is provided in the Cynwyd National School, which is in the parish, and in other schools in adjoining districts. Cynwyd National School is conducted as a public elementary school, in accordance with the provisions of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, and with the requirements of the code. The resolution of the managers under which certain children are excluded from Cynwyd National School on 30th May, 1877, was rescinded within a month of that date. The Education Department refuse to sanction the use of a room in Llangar for a temporary school on the ground that such room was quite unfit for the purpose. The refusal to sanction a loan for a new board school was the necessary consequence of the inability of the school board to prove that additional accommodation was required for the district. The Department have approved plans for the erection of a new school by voluntary effort; but, in accordance with their invariable practice, they cannot promise annual grants to such school until it is actually open under a certificated teacher.

MR. T. E. ELLIS

Is it correct that the average attendance at this school within the last two years has been about thirty, and even after deducting the twenty-four who go to other parishes because the school is sectarian, are there not 148 children to be provided for in this parish?

* SIR W. HART DYKE

What the Department has to deal with is the school accommodation in the district. From inquiries they have found that the accommodation is sufficient for the district. About the actual number attending this particular school I do not know.

MR. MUNDELLA

May I ask whether a public elementary school is mot bound to receive children without any conditions?

* SIR W. HART DYKE

I have already stated that this resolution was passed and rescinded within a month.

MR. T. E. ELLIS

Is it not a fact that the only notification of the rescinding came from the Education Department itself seven months after wards?

* SIR W. HART DYKE

According to my information the unfortunate resolution was rescinded within a month.