§ MR. ANSTRUTHER, on behalf of the hon. Member for the Partick Division of Lanark (Mr. J. PARKER-SMITH): I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, why the subject of Natural History of Animals and Plants has been dropped from the class subjects for Standards IV., V., and VI. in the new Code; and, whether, inasmuch as the effect may be to discourage the study of Natural History in the higher standards, teachers will, under the Supplementary Schedule, have, the same encouragement to teach the subject as hitherto?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. A. H. D. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)In place of the Elementary Science Course, which appeared in the Schedule of Class Subjects in former Codes, has been substituted the course which formerly appeared in the Supplement to the Schedule as the Science to Common Things. The reason was, that this was regarded as a more useful and practicable example of a General Science Course. This substituted course does not provide for the teaching of the Natural History of Plants and Animals after Standard III. is passed; but there is full liberty for managers to obtain the sanction of the Department to any alternative Science Course which they may desire, and they may present, if they think fit, the course which has been omitted, or a course dealing to a larger extent with Natural History. I do not think this change in the Code will have the effect suggested. The Department are far from desiring to discourage the study of Natural History.