HC Deb 26 February 1894 vol 21 cc1033-4
SIR H. ROSCOE (Manchester, S.)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether a letter has been forwarded to him written, by the direction of the teacher, by a child in St. Stephen's Girls' School, Chorlton-on-Medlock, asking her parents to pay subscriptions instead of -the school fees which have been remitted; whether he can give the terms of the letter; and whether the writing of such letter is sanctioned by the Department?

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York, W.R., Rotherham

A letter has been forwarded to me, which, I am informed, was written by a girl in this school by order of the teacher. This girl, who, I presume, goes home every day, appeals to her parents by letter asking them for subscriptions instead of school fees which have been remitted. It runs as follows: — St Stephen's Girls', C.-on-M., Fob. 9th, 1894 My dear Parents,—I have much pleasure in stating that the managers of our school propose to remit the school fees, in my standard, until the end of the school year—that is, until March 31, 1894. Some time ago the managers made a special appeal to you, in common with other parents, to assist them in raising a fund to carry out some important and necessary alterations in the school premises. This appeal has not met with as liberal a response as they could have wished, owing, perhaps, to the season of commercial depression which has been passing over us for some time. With a view to increase the amount already raised towards the alteration fund, and to give us. the children, a personal interest in the matter, the managers desire that we may have an opportunity of paying into this fund the amount we should have paid in school fees. If you kindly agree to this proposal, please write "Yes" across the front of this letter, and return it on Monday morning next. I am, your loving (laugher. FLORENCE WARD. Practice in letter writing is a very useful part of school work; but to make children copy out what is really a circular soliciting subscriptions for the school seems to me to be a very undesirable proceeding. I will make further inquiry into the case.

MR DODD (Essex, Maldon)

What is the writing like?

MR. ACLAND

Oh, very good. I should think it is the writing of a child about 10 or 11 years old.