§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the contents of the History of England written by Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Rudyard Kipling, and particularly to the paragraphs relating to Ireland and to the Irish Parliamentary party; whether he considers the book to be suitable for use in primary schools; and, if not, whether he will take steps to prevent such use?
Mr. PEASEI think I may say that some passages in the book seem to the Board by no means suitable for children in public elementary schools, and I hope the publicity given to the matter by the hon. Member's question will bring to the notice of local education authorities the views of the Board on the subject.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHMay I ask whether the chief objection to this book is not merely its low and vulgar tone, but the fact that the philosophy of this school is founded upon a misunderstanding of Darwin?