HC Deb 20 May 1901 vol 94 c594
SIR JOHN BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether it has been reported to him that in the punishment book of the Billinghay Board Infant School, Lincolnshire, 378 cases of corporal punishment were recorded as having occurred between 12th November, 1900, and 12th February, 1901, making, on an average attendance of seventy-eight, ten cases per cent. daily; and, if so, whether he has taken, or intends to take, any action in the matter.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST,) Cambridge University

My attention was called by the officers of the Board of Education to the excessive caning in this infants' school. The punishment book was sent for; but it proved that a new book had been commenced on February 13th, and that on the old book (which had been taken away by the inspector) being returned it had been destroyed. The new book disclosed the punishment of caning to have been inflicted for very trivial offences in eighteen cases during the fortnight which the new record covered. The managers have been warned that the grant will be withdrawn if such a state of things is not remedied.