§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the London School Board have applied for recognition of certain higher elementary schools with a modern curriculum not scientific in a preponderating degree, such as was recommended officially to the London School Board by reports of Her Majesty's Inspectors forwarded by the Board of Education; whether he is aware that as the result of a conference attended by Her Majesty's Chief Inspectors the London School Board adopted the recommendation as to curriculum; whether the Board of Education recommends schools with a prevailing modern and general education as equally suitable as, and in some towns and districts more suitable than schools of the type of the schools of science; and whether there is anything in the Minute limiting the 1517 recognition of higher elementary schools to schools whose curriculum bears a close resemblance to the curriculum of a school of science; and whether the Board of Education will leave local managers free to consult the needs of their localities in framing curricula for acceptance in higher elementary schools.
§ SIR J. GORSTThe London School Board have applied for the recognition as higher elementary schools of seventy schools with a curriculum not scientific in a preponderating degree. The reports of Her Majesty's inspectors have, no doubt, expressed the view that a curriculum preparing scholars for the subsequent study of commercial subjects is suitable to public elementary schools in London. I am not aware of the grounds which induced the London School Board to adopt such a curriculum in the seventy schools above mentioned. The answer to the third paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The scale of grants in the higher elementary schools minute is framed for schools whose curriculum bears a close resemblance to the curriculum of a school of science. It would be much too high for schools of the type described in the earlier paragraphs of the question. The Board of Education desire to leave to managers the greatest possible discretion in framing the curricula for their school; but they cannot pay the high grants of the higher elementary schools minute except to schools whose curriculum bears a close resemblance to the curriculum of a school of science.
§ MR. LOUGHTo how many of these seventy schools is the Board of Education prepared to pay the higher grants asked for by the London School Board?
§ SIR J. GORSTNot one; because the curriculum is of a commercial and not a scientific nature.