EDUCATION CODE (SCOTLAND). (Hansard, 15 September 1914)

§ Sir H. CRAIK
I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether it is not the case that under Article 24 of the Scotch Code, attendances of scholars at physical exercises, swimming lessons, or other forms of outdoor lessons, may, with the sanction of the Department, be counted as school attendances; whether application was made under that Article by the Glasgow School Board to count the services given by boys as orderlies at the request of the officer commanding recruits, and the Bed Cross Society, and under due supervision—

HON. MEMBERS
"Order, order!"

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
The hon. Member brought that question to me yesterday, and I understood that he was going to put it down on the Paper. It is a lengthy question, and one involving so much detail that I think it should be put upon the Paper.

§ Sir H. CRAIK
There are very obvious reasons why this should be put as an immediate question and why an immediate answer is required, and I thought when I came to you that you gave me permission to put the question to-day.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
If the hon. Member had only handed it in at the Table, it would have appeared on the Paper.

§ Sir H. CRAIK
On the second day?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)
I can answer the hon. Gentleman's question now. There is no true comparison between the physical exercises or swimming lessons under a competent instructor referred to in Article 24 and the work proposed to be done, which largely consists of running errands; and I may add to the answer I gave yesterday that, while it is in the power of the school board at its own discretion whenever it thinks it desirable not to insist upon attendance, I do not think that it is desirable to encourage the employment of children at school when it is possible to find plenty of older lads who have left school, as well as other unemployed persons, who would be very glad of the work, even though the employment of the latter may cost a little more. As to the second part of the question, it is not the case that the Glasgow School Board referred to Article 24, which, as I have pointed out, is not applicable.

§ Sir H. CRAIK
Arising out of that answer, may I ask whether, in the opinion of the Scottish Education Department, the lessons of self-reliance, helpfulness, and— [Interruption.]