§ 50. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, owing to the present system of teaching script writing in schools up to the age of from 12 to 13 years, when the teaching of longhand commences, the handwriting of the rising generation is degenerating; and if, in consultation with local education authorities, he will consider reverting to the system taught in schools prior to the introduction of script writing?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (The Duchess of Atholl)My right hon. Friend is afraid that he cannot accept the suggestion made in the first part of the Question or the assumption upon which it is based. The subject of penmanship will be fully dealt with in the forthcoming edition of the Board's Volume of Suggestions to Teachers, but I may say that the Board have no desire to prescribe any particular system of handwriting, 906 and are content to leave the matter in the hands of the teachers and local authorities.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYWill the President of the Board of Education ask for the opinions of local authorities and the teaching profession?
Viscountess ASTORWill the Noble Lady ask some of the mothers who have had children taught this way? It really is ruining their handwriting.
Duchess of ATHOLLMy right hon. Friend will, no doubt, be prepared to consider representations from competent authorities.
§ Mr. STEPHENIs the Noble Lady aware that the handwriting of the rising generation is always degenerating?