§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the medal regulations made by various School Boards, whereby medals are awarded to children who make every school attendance regularly and punctually; whether he is aware that the West Ham School Board has refused to award medals to the children of Church of England parents who withdrew their children on Ascension Day for the purpose of their attending church, under Section 7 of the Education Act of 1870; whether the Board is acting within its legal rights in thus penalising the children of parents who are acting strictly within their legal rights; and even if it is, whether he considers such action fair and reasonable; and whether he can take any steps to remove this grievance?
§ SIR J. GORSTWhile the Committee of Council regret that any School Board should show so little consideration to the religious observances of the Church, or of any religious denomination, they have no power to interfere. The managers of any Public Elementary School are within their legal right in attaching such conditions as they please to the prizes for attendance which they distribute.