§ 47. Mr. Sorensenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will make it financially possible to arrange either for the temporary exchange of elementary scholars with similar children from abroad or for British elementary scholars to visit foreign countries?
Mr. LindsayIf the hon. Member has in mind arrangements which would involve the attendance of elementary school children at similar schools in foreign countries, I do not regard the suggestion as practicable, since the children's linguistic attainments would hardly make the visit profitable. Apart from this, however, arrangements have been made by local education authorities in a number of cases by which groups of selected children have visited foreign countries and, where the Board of Education have approved these arrangements, they have been recognised for grant. I must add, however, that the value of such visits depends not merely upon money, but very largely upon careful personal preparation, and I do not think I would be justified, on the experience so far gained, in encouraging local education authorities to embark upon any schemes for a large expansion of this activity.
§ Mr. SorensenWill the hon. Member not agree that if these exchange visits are 3301 necessary in the case of secondary school children they are even more necessary in the case of children from elementary schools?
Mr. LindsayI do not follow the hon. Member's logic. A large number of children who go to secondary schools are working-class children, and I think these exchange visits are probably more valuable in the case of secondary school children.
§ Mr. PetherickIs it not necessary that they should be taught first rate English first?
§ Mr. SorensenIs it not necessary that our children should belong not only to this country but to the human race?