§ 30. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what means and to what extent the pamphlet, "The Commonwealth in Education", prepared by his Department is being circulated to the teaching profession; and what assessment is planned of its impact on history and geography curricula in schools.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe pamphlet was sent to all local education authorities and to the national and educational Press. 3,000 copies were purchased in four months. It is impossible to assess the impact on school curricula of particular publications, but experience has shown that teachers value publications such as "The Commonwealth in Education".
§ Mr. ChapmanBut would it not have been a good idea to circulate this to schools instead of waiting for local education authorities to farm it out? Is my hon. Friend aware that this is one of the ways, by associating the Commonwealth with the curricula, in which we can cure a great deal of racial prejudice?
§ Mr. HowellWe circulated this pamphlet to every local education authority, but it sells at 5s. 6d. and a free distribution to all schools in the country would have been difficult to justify. We hope, of course, that they will take it up, and there are now signs that they are doing so.