§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham) moved the Second Reading of this Bill. He explained that the Bill was intended to raise from 10 to 11 years the age of full attendance at school.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Acland.)
§ * SIR R. TEMPLE (Surrey, Kingston)said, he had a Bill for a similar purpose, and he should be glad if the right hon. Gentleman would consent to its being read a second time together with the Government measure, to which measure he had only one objection—namely, that it did not go far enough. At present the children had to undergo an individual examination before leaving school for half time or full time employment, which led to seriously diminishing the benefits of abolishing payment by results, which abolition had been arranged by recent Educational Codes. Children in school rose 55 from one Standard to another by average attendance. What all educational authorities desired was that children should leave school on the same conditions as those under which they rose from one Standard to another, and it was the main object of his Bill to bring that about.
§ MR. ACLANDsaid, he agreed to the principle of the Bill of the hon. Baronet, and the Bill of the Government was a humble step in the same direction. He should he glad to co-operate with the hon. Baronet as far as he could in passing the other measure.
§ * SIR F. S. POWELL (Wigan)said, he hoped the Bill would be read a second time. The interval between the time of leaving school and that of beginning work was most prejudicial to the children.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Friday, at Two of the clock.