24. Marquess of HARTINGTONasked the President of the Board of Education what action he is taking to establish courses of training for teachers interested in country life and occupations?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe Board have been recently considering the best means of offering to intending teachers courses of training which will meet the special needs of country schools in the way of practical instruction, while at the same time maintaining a high general standard of education among teachers serving in country schools. I have now appointed a Departmental Committee, under the Chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Member for Stone (Mr. Lamb), to consider the whole question. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and terms of reference of this Committee.
§ Mr. COVEIs it not a fact that there is no elementary school teacher on this Committee; and will the noble Lord consider the advisability of having a practical elementary school teacher on it?
§ Lord E. PERCYThat matter was considered. I would ask the hon. Member to remember the difficulty of keeping a Committee within manageable dimensions and in this case the Committee has to represent the training colleges as well as local authorities, so that there is ample teachers' representation.
§ Mr. COVEIs it right, in the judgment of the noble Lord, that a Committee which has to deal with this question should not include a representative of the elementary teachers with practical experience?
§ Lord E. PERCYI think the Committee will have the full advantage of evidence from elementary school teachers on their experience in the schools and the needs of the schools. I think if the hon. Member looks into the membership of the Committee he will see that it ensures ample knowledge of the needs of the schools.
§ Lord E. PERCYCertainly.
§ Mr. N. MACLEANDoes the Noble Lord suggest that the inclusion of an elementary school teacher on that Committee would make it unmanageable?
§ Following are the names and terms of reference:
§ Terms of Reference.
§ To consider
- (1) the desirability of providing courses of training specially suitable for teachers interested in country life and occupations, and the lines which such courses should follow:
- (2) (a) the framing of the syllabus of an examination which would be open to rural pupil teachers and other persons serving in country schools and which would qualify candidates either for admission to training colleges or for recognition as uncertificated teachers; and (b) the establishment of a body to conduct such an examination.
§ The members of the Committee are:
- Mr. J. Q. Lamb, J.P., M.P. (Chairman).
- The Vice-Chancellor of Reading University.
- Miss M. M. Allan.
- Mr. W. A. Brockington, O.B.E.
- Professor A. A. Cock.
- Mr. P. G. Dallinger, O.B.E., Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
- Mr. H. Hartley, Staff Inspector for the Training of Teachers.
- Sir Percy Jackson, J.P., LL.D.
- Mr. E. W. Maples, O.B.E., LL.D
- Mr. J. O. Peet, His. Majesty's Inspector.
- Miss A. E. War, C.B.E., Chief Woman Inspector.
§ The Secretary to the Committee is Mr. G. K. Sutherland, His Majesty's Inspector, and the Assistant Secretary, Mr. M. Sweeny.