§ MR. MATHER (Lancashire, S. E., Gorton)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he has received an application for permission for a deputation, representing institutions interested in science instruction, to wait upon him relative to the proposed changes contained in the circular issued by the Department of Science and Art, dated 12th November, 1891, Form 349 S.; and whether, seeing that there is a very widespread objection to the proposals contained in the circular, he will kindly undertake not to lay the 887 proposed regulations upon the Table of the House until the deputation has had an opportunity of laying their views before him?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir WILLIAM HART DYKE,) Kent, DartfordI have already informed the deputation, to which I believe the hon. Member refers, that I did not think any good purpose would be served by my receiving them; but if they still press it, and my hon. Friend after hearing what I have to say thinks it would remove misconception, I shall be prepared to re-consider my objection. The Minute of the 12th November last, which, I may say, does not require to be laid on the Table of the House before coming into operation, was passed after very full and careful consideration. If the payments at the last examination had been made under its provisions, the total grants would have amounted to within a few pounds of the amount actually distributed under existing rules. But the administrative and central charge would have been considerably less, and the results of the examination announced much sooner. Some schools will benefit pecuniarily under the new rules, while no doubt others will receive diminished grants, unless they improve their methods of instruction. There is no reason why they should not do so, and earn even larger grants than at present, if they carry forward the instruction of the pupils, instead of satisfying themselves, as they have hitherto done, by teaching the merest elements. Some modifications of existing rules have become, for the reasons given in the Minute, absolutely necessary. Those we have made, which will not take effect till after the current Session, will, while making the minimum of disturbance in the present system, greatly stimulate and reward more advanced scientific instruction. I am glad to say that the Minute has been very well received in the better schools and by educational authorities as a step in the right direction; and though we have carefully considered all the arguments that have been addressed to us we have heard none which would justify us in modifying it.