§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEY (Paddington, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education, with reference to the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools, 1906, Curriculum, Clause 7, whether he can see his way to amend the recommendation that teaching need not be limited to English or British history, and lessons on citizenship may be given with advantage in the higher classes, so as to make the teaching of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship compulsory for all children in the higher standards.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. LOUGH,) Islington, W.The Article setting out the curriculum for public elementary schools is designed to leave the necessary liberty to local education authorities and managers and teachers for considering the circumstances of individual schools, and the qualifications of individual teachers in framing their plans of lessons. Any rigid obligation to give lessons on citizenship in the higher standards of all schools indiscriminately would hardly be a wise regulation in any code. The reference, in the Article referred to, to lessons on citizenship clearly indicates, I think, that the subject is one which the Board regard as of high educational value. I may add that three suggested schemes for instruction in history to 238 scholars in the higher classes will be found in Appendix IV. of the " Suggestions for the Consideration of Teachers; and Others concerned in the Work of Public Elementary Schools," and that lessons on citizenship are provided for in all these three schemes.