§ MR. MORRELL (Oxford, Woodstock)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education, whether, having regard to the expressed opinion of the Education Department in 1892, that it is desirable to give further encouragement to the employment of kindergarten methods in infant schools, he will inform the House what steps have been taken to secure adequate training in kindergarten method in the training colleges, and to make this subject an essential part of the curriculum and examination demanded of teachers, whether pupil or assistant, prior to obtaining certificate of qualification for an appointment to a public elementary infant school under inspection; and to what extent managers of public elementary infant schools have availed themselves of the opportunity of appointing as assistant teachers persons holding certificates of the National Frœbel Union under the Code of 1892.
§ SIR JOHN GORSTAs a rule no special training is provided in the training colleges for teachers of infants' schools. In the syllabus of examination for certificates of this year kindergarten is for the first time specifically mentioned; as an optional subject. A considerable number of managers have availed themselves of the provision mentioned in the second paragraph, but no precise figures can be given.