§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked whether, in view of the importance to all girls in their after-life of a knowledge of needlework and the art of mending and darning, and the growing feeling on the part of the domestic economy committees of local education authorities that insufficient time is now devoted to this subject in the elementary schools, the Board 857 will consider the desirability of modifying the regulation under which the less practically useful subject of drawing has recently been made a compulsory subject for girls, with the consequent reduction of the number of school hours previously devoted to needlework?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThe Board have every desire that ample time should be devoted by girls in public elementary schools to practical needlework in all its branches. It is not quite accurate to say that drawing has recently been made a compulsory subject for girls, but the Board attach considerable importance to its inclusion in their curriculum. If any local education authority finds difficulty in arranging the time-table so as to preserve a proper proportion between needlework, drawing, and the other subjects, the Board will be glad to assist them to the best of their ability.
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTI should like to know whether it is a fact that compulsory drawing by girls has excluded a good part of the needlework which used to be done in the elementary school?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI do not think that is necessarily so.