MR. T. F. RICHARDSI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, where cigarette-smoking is punishable by flogging or expulsion from the school, no written rule or minute exists which prohibits this offence; and whether, seeing that there are already more than seventy schools, including some of an equal and higher grade than Queen Mary's School, Walsall, where corporal punishment is not used, he will, in the absence of any such rule, recommend the prohibition of flogging.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. RUNCIMAN,) DewsburyI am not aware whether the rule referred to is in writing, but my information is to the effect that the boy admitted that he knew of its existence, and the question does not, therefore, seem material. As I have already stated, I am reluctant to interfere with the responsibility of governing bodies for the measures they adopt to enforce discipline in their schools, and I do not think the facts which have been brought to my notice call for a recommendation such as my hon. friend suggests.