Mr. T. F. RICHARDSI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education, whether his attention has been called to the case of a young man named Jellyman, nineteen years of age, and attending Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, and who it is alleged has been guilty of smoking a cigarette in the precincts of the Walsall Railway station; whether he is aware that the head master offered as a punishment for the affair either a flogging before the whole school or his immediate resignation; and whether he can take such action as will modify such punishment under the circumstances.
§ MR. RUNCIMANFrom unofficial information which I have received I gather that the Governors of the School investigated the case referred to and decided unanimously to confirm the action of the head master. I further understand that the matter has been placed by the friends of the young man in the hands of lawyers, and I do not therefore propose to initiate any official inquiry into the circumstances of the case.
Mr. T. F. RICHARDSIt is not the case that the friends have placed the matter in the hands of solicitors; therefore I ask for an Answer to my Question.
§ MR. RUNCIMANI am afraid that the information I have clashes with that of my hon. friend.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf the hon. Member cares to send further information I will consider it.
§ MR. LUPTONIs it a common practice in this school publicly to flog young men of eighteen?
[No Answer was returned.]