Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the recent rise in the education rates levied by local authorities; whether boys in the industrial schools were up till recently allowed to work from seven o'clock until time for school at nine o'clock, and earned 5s. a week and their breakfast; whether this money will now be lost, and a further burden thrown on the ratepayer in consequence; and what was the reason for the order?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe practice of allowing boys from industrial schools to be employed in paid domestic work outside the school before breakfast has never been encouraged by the Home Office, and the practice has been confined to a few schools only. In December last, in a clrcular letter in. which the chief inspector urged on managers of industrial schools the need for a higher educational standard, and the application to these schools of the principles underlying the Education Act, 1918, he recommended that this and other forms of employment which have little educational value should be discontinued, in order that the boys might take full advantage of the education and training afforded by the school. I will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of this letter, and I feel sure that he will agree with the principles laid down. The cost of making this small change will be trifling.