§ Mr. ROWLANDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the interest that has been displayed in the re-issue by the Board of Education of the first instalment of the suggestions for the consideration of teachers and others concerning the work of public elementary schools, he can see his way to fix approximately the dates on which further instalments will be issued and to supply Members of this House with the order in which the subjects discussed will be considered?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. C. P. Trevelyan)The preparation of the future instalments has not reached a sufficiently advanced stage to enable the Board to say when or in what order they will be issued, but it is probable that the next subject dealt with will be Drawing.
§ Sir FRANCIS LOWEasked whether it is within the President of the Board's knowledge that, in many of the public elementary schools of the country, headmasters are allowed to delegate powers of corporal punishment to their assistants, and that these assistants in their turn are accustomed to employ one of the pupils to watch and report other pupils for punishment; and whether he will take measures to put a stop to this practice?
§ Mr. TREVELYANIt is within the discretion of the local education authorities to make regulations as to the persons to whom, and the conditions under which, the infliction of corporal punishment may be delegated, and the Board do not consider it necessary to intervene except when particular cases of abuse are brought to their notice. The Board are not aware of the practice of employing children in the manner suggested in the question, and it is certainly not one which they would approve.
§ Sir F. LOWEWill the hon. Gentleman inquire whether it is the fact that children are employed in this way to watch other children and report them for punishment? If they are, will measures be taken to put a stop to that practice, which is obviously reprehensible?
§ Mr. TREVELYANPerhaps the hon. Gentleman can give us information as to the practice, and if we find that it is in operation we can make inquiries.
§ Sir F. LOWEI shall be very happy to do so.
§ Mr. W. P. BYLESIs it not the fact that the Board of Education have issued Regulations which confines the power of inflicting corporal punishment to the headmaster?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThat is a matter which is left to the discretion of the local authorities. The Board of Education only deal with special cases of abuse that may arise.
§ Sir F. LOWEMay I ask whether the Board of Education think it desirable that assistant masters should be vested with powers of corporal punishment?
§ Mr. TREVELYANCorporal punishment is under the control of the headmaster.