HC Deb 04 June 1931 vol 253 cc332-3
13. Mr. McSHANE

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the approaching Disarmament Conference, he will consider, inter alia, the advisability of setting up a committee representative of education authorities and the teaching profession to make suggestions as to the best methods to be adopted in and through the schools of the country for the instruction of public opinion in this problem?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Lees-Smith)

I do not think that it would be advisable, so far as concerns the work of the schools, to set up a special committee dealing with one particular aspect of the work of the League of Nations, such as disarmament. But instruction is already generally given in the schools on the whole work of the League of Nations and I am inquiring into the methods adopted to give this instruction.

Mr. BEAUMONT

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care that no instruction is given on the many controversial matters which arise in this connection?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

Those points are all gone into.

Mr. BEAUMONT

Does the right hon. Gentleman understand that much exception is taken to some of the instruction given?