HC Deb 11 August 1904 vol 140 cc238-9
MR. ERNEST GRAY

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education, whether his attention has been called to the number of reports and returns, often of a complicated character, which local education authorities are now requiring from managers and teachers; and, if so, whether he will remind those authorities of the loss which the children sustain † See (4) Debates, cxxiv., 539. when teachers are withdrawn from the duty for which they have been trained in order to prepare such returns.

SIR WILLIAM ANSON

Doubtless in the early stages of the administration of a new Act the local education authorities are anxious to obtain a large amount of information for their guidance. I have every hope that their requirements will rapidly decrease, and that in a normal state of things this difficulty will not be felt. It must be obvious to local authorities that the time of the teaching staff cannot be so occupied without some detriment to the work of the school. To remind them of the fact, I think, would be superfluous.