§ 34. Mr. GEORGE THORNEasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to a speech made on the 23rd instant to the children at the Deal central schools on the lessons of Empire Day, containing the statement that another war was certain, and that it was their duty to prepare for it; and will he take steps to prevent such addresses being delivered to children in public elementary schools?
§ 31. Mr. COSTELLOasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to a speech made to the children at Deal central schools on Friday last; and, if so, will he take such steps as he is able to prevent in the future the giving of militarist speeches in schools maintained at the public expense?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI have seen a short Press report of the speech referred to. I am certain that what the majority of the House would like to see impressed upon the mind of the rising generation in our schools is the hope of permanent peace between nations secured under the League of Nations, and not the inevitability of future wars. But I believe that local education authorities have no sympathy with militarism, and therefore that it may safely be left to their discretion to guard against any expression of it in the schools.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for his address on peace, what steps is he taking to stop this sort of stuff being taught in the schools?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI have not got control over the schools and of those people who are allowed to make speeches in them by the local education authorities.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESIn attempting to stop the teaching of militarism, will the right hon. Gentleman also stop the teaching of Communism?
§ Mr. COVEIs my hon. Friend aware that not a single instance in a single school by a single teacher has been proved of the teaching of Communism?