§ MR. CHARLES McARTHURI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been directed to the case of Alice Emily Keates, attending the day schools of St. John's Church, Sutton-on-Plym, Plymouth, who declares that she was required by the schoolmistress to bow and make the sign of the Cross on passing an image of the Virgin Mary in the church, to which the school was taken twice a week and on Saints' days, and was caned by the mistress for her objection to do so, until her removal from the school by her father in February last; and whether he will investigate the matter, and state what steps he proposes to take to prevent the repetition of such proceedings.
§ THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON, Oxford University)This information relates to a period which ended nine months ago; and no complaint has been made to the Board of Education. The statutory declarations of the girl and her father, sent to me privately by the honourable Member are being communicated to the managers.