HC Deb 30 May 1911 vol 26 cc904-5
Mr. GILL

asked if the continuation classes to be set up under the Education (School and Continuation Class Attendance) Bill will be day or evening classes, or whether the local education authority will have power to decide upon either one or the other system?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)

It will be for the local education authority to decide the hours when the classes will be held at which any by-law will require children to attend.

Mr. C. BATHURST

May I ask whether the continuation classes under the Bill are not to be obligatory in the rural districts as in the urban districts?

Mr. TREVELYAN

I think it is impossible to discuss the merits of the Bill in answer to questions.

Mr. GILL

asked whether, under Clause 2 of the Education (School and Continuation Class Attendance) Bill, the local authority will be compelled to make by-laws making provision for children between the ages of thirteen and sixteen to attend continuation classes, or whether it will be optional for them to do so, and, if optional, to what age they can compel the full attendance of children at a public elementary school?

Mr. TREVELYAN

The Bill proposes to enable, but not to compel, local education authorities to make by-laws requiring attendance at continuation classes. It would be the duty of the authority to compel the attendance of children at public elementary schools up to the age of fourteen unless they had come under the operation of a by-law requiring attendance at a continuation class, or, having reached the age of thirteen, were released from attendance with a view to employment in agriculture. Every child, without exception, would be compelled to attend up to the age of thirteen. Local education authorities would be able to make by-laws requiring children to attend up to the age of fifteen.

Mr. GILL

asked whether, under Subsection (2) of Clause 1 of the Education (School and Continuation Class Attendance) Bill, a local authority will have power to raise the total age of exemption from attendance at a public elementary school to fifteen even though the parents of a child of thirteen are willing that it shall attend continuation classes?

Mr. TREVELYAN

The answer is in the affirmative.