§ Mr. DAWESasked the President of the Board of Education whether in the London elementary schools, both county council and non-provided, frequent promotions and degradations of scholars are being enforced on the teachers, without regard to the educational fitness of such scholars, merely to make the classes fit the schoolrooms; and whether he will take the necessary steps to remedy this state of affairs?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)I am aware that complaints have recently been made as to difficulties of the character described by the hon. Member. These difficulties have arisen mainly from the undoubted pressure on the school accommodation, which is seriously defective in certain districts of London. The Board have been in constant communication with the council with a view to expediting the provision of additional school premises, which are gravely needed, and will continue to press the council to provide adequate accommodation. The classification and promotion of scholars is, however, a duty which belongs to the teachers in the schools, and the local education authority are primarily responsible for its proper performance. I understand that the matter has recently been discussed by the Education Committee of the London 534 County Council, and that a sub-committee is at present engaged in its investigation. If the local education authority's inquiries are carried out with reasonable promptitude, I do not think it is desirable that I should attempt to anticipate the result. I am, however, fully alive to the educational importance of the matter.