§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Education whether the terms of reference to the recently appointed Departmental Committee on school buildings were intended to include the consideration of what was the best type of building for an elementary school and what was the best internal arrangement of class-rooms, cloak-rooms, 1303 and offices, bearing in mind not merely present convenience but also the possibility of future extension; and, if not, whether, in view of the differences of opinion among school architects and their occasional lack of foresight in these matters, resulting in increased expenditure on the part of local education authorities, he would specifically widen the terms of reference so as to include this consideration?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Runciman)I purposely restricted the reference to the Departmental Committee to materials and methods of construction in order that this small Committee might be able to deal with the matter expeditiously. I think it would not be at all in the interests of local education authorities that I should extend the reference so as to include the whole question of school planning, which is very complicated. As regards school architects I am disposed rather to welcome than to discourage differences of opinion, and in the interest of progress, which involves a certain amount of experiment, I should be very reluctant to prescribe any type or types of school building as the best.
§ Mr. EDGAR JONESasked whether the Departmental Committee on school buildings would call evidence from practical teachers representing each grade and type of school?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe reference to the Departmental Committee relates only to public elementary schools, and only to material and methods of construction. I have no doubt that the Committee will welcome the evidence of anyone whose experience qualifies him to speak on these points.