SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if drill and physical exercises are now an obligatory subject of the Elementary Education Code, and what weekly period of school time has to be given to it; and if His Majesty's inspectors are instructed to be careful that no departure from the rule is permitted.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON,) Oxford UniversityNo subjects are obligatory under the Code, but physical exercises, which generally include drill, are prescribed as a subject which should as a rule be taught in all departments of the school, and are, in fact, almost universally taught. The Board consider that at least one hour's instruction a week should be given, the hour being divided into two or three portions. Recreative exercises should also be daily and constantly practised. The Board are shortly issuing a volume of Hints to Teachers in which the subject will be dealt with. Under the circum- 604 stances I do not consider that any special instructions to His Majesty's inspectors are needed.