§ Mrs. RUNGEasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the State grant to education, his department is kept in touch with the policy of school managers in teaching propagandist doctrines in the schools; whether, in that case, his attention has been called to the recommendations of the education committee of the Bermondsey borough council concerning the removal of pictures such as the Charge of the Light Brigade and the Death of Nelson from the wails of the schools; the refusal of holidays on the occasions of such public functions as the Aldershot tattoo, the Hendon air display, and similar undertakings as well as the celebration of May Day on political lines; and what steps does he propose to take in this matter?
Mr. STANLEYThe Board have always resisted any attempt to use the schools for political propaganda; and any case where propaganda was alleged would be at once investigated. As regards the second part of the question, I must point2996W out that the Bermondsey Borough Council, although they appoint a proportion of managers of schools in their district, are not the responsible educational authority for those schools. I understand that the Borough Council has circulated privately to managers appointed by them a list of certain recommendations, but no copy of their recommendations has been sent to the Board. If the hon. Lady is in possession of a copy and will send it to me, I will look into the matter to see whether any action on it is desirable or possible.