§ 13. Dr. Boysonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has considered revising the Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers.
§ Mr. MulleyA single volume cannot cover adequately all aspects of education as it has developed since the Handbook was last printed in 1944. My Department has issued a number of Education Surveys, pamphlets and other publications on specific topics. I believe this is now a more appropriate way to communicate with teachers.
§ Dr. BoysonIs the Secretary of State not aware that that Handbook of Suggestions used to be held in every school and that the Department's inspectors used to draw it to the teachers' attention? It 1086 was at least a guarantee of a basic minimum curriculum wherever they went, whereas the satisfaction of many parents now depends on which school their children go to in the "bingo" of the State education system?
§ Mr. MulleyI think that even the hon. Gentleman will admit that there have been changes and improvements in the education system since 1944. Indeed, the book was printed before the 1944 Act, to deal with the public elementary schools. Although the hon. Gentleman may like to take education back to 1944, very few hon. Members would want to go back with him.
§ Mr. BrittanDoes not the fact that the handbook was printed so long ago underline the need for printing a new version of it, incorporating any fresh material, so that there is available a revised but comprehensive standard which can be applied by teachers today?
§ Mr. MulleyIf the hon. Member had paid me the courtesy of listening to my original reply he would have realised that the information is made available but that it is thought more convenient and appropriate to do it by way of a series of texts on particular topics rather than to try to combine them all together in one book, not least because after the 1944 handbook was produced the 1944 Act divided schools, so that there were no longer all-age schools.