§ Mr. W. SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether, in view of the fact that the teaching of a foreign language is included in the curriculum of elementary schools, he will consider the advisability of extending this generally to all junior technical schools;
(2) whether he has refused an application of the Portsmouth education authority for permission to include a foreign language in the curriculum of their junior technical school, but has stated that he would be prepared to consider the question of sanctioning the provision of a class in French for selected students outside school hours; whether the pupils attend usually 30 hours per week, and that the home work occupies from one to three hours per evening; and whether, in view of the impracticability of the pupils attending a class outside school hours, he will reconsider his decision in the matter?
§ Mr. FISHEROn the general issue I would refer him to the reply given on the 1st August last to the hon. Member for the Spen Valley Division of Yorkshire (Mr. Myers). The decision of the Board in the Portsmouth case followed the principle stated in that reply; and I find it difficult to believe that if a reasonable number of selected students, who were really desirous of obtaining instruction in French, were to present themselves, time and facilities could not he found for meeting their wishes. It would be a mistake to suppose that instruction in a foreign language is a normal or usual part of the curriculum of a public elementary school. In exceptional cases provision is made for such teaching as part of a course of advanced instruction, aiming at the preparation of the pupils for commercial life.