§ Mr. GRATTAN DOYLEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take steps to permit boys who have reached the age of fourteen and are in or have passed the sixth standard to leave school before the end of the term, provided a certificate is produced to the headmaster stating that a berth is open for the boy?
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§ Mr. HERBERT FISHERI am satisfied that the hon. Member's suggestion would not be to the advantage of the boys concerned or to that of the schools. The provisions of Section 9 (1) of the Education Act, 1918, received very general approval in Parliament and in the country, and before fixing 1st February, 1919, as the appointed day for the operation of that Sub-section the Board gave most careful consideration to the effect which its operation would be likely to have in present circumstances.