HC Deb 09 November 1911 vol 30 cc1822-3
Mr. ROWLANDS

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that bills advertising an entertainment of the juvenile branch of the Primrose League were given to children by teachers inside the national schools, West Hill, Dartford, on 2nd November; and whether it is usual to permit political associations to circulate bills in schools supported by public money?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)

I am informed that the bills referred to were distributed by the teachers to the girls inside the school and that the headmaster of the boys' department handed some of the bills to one of the boys, who distributed them outside the school to other boys. The school referred to is a council school. The matter concerns primarily the local authority, but steps such as this, which tend to bring politics inside the schools, are greatly to be deprecated. I am sending a copy of the hon. Member's question and my answer to the authority.