HC Deb 23 November 1925 vol 188 cc961-2W
Brigadier-General BROOKE

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the establishment in Queensland of rural schools at which part-time scholars from neighbouring schools meet for lessons in agriculture and the allied industries; and whether, in view of the shortage of land workers, he will recommend to the committee of inquiry recently appointed to inquire into the public system of education in England and Wales in relation to the requirements of industry that they should consider the desirability of establishing such schools in this country?

Lord E. PERCY

My attention has been called to the experiment referred to. As my hon. and gallant Friend may be aware, arrangements are made in a number of rural areas in this country for collecting the older children from elementary schools into suitable schools where special instruction suited to the needs of the locality can be given, and I hope shortly to issue a memorandum for general information in regard to those experiments. I will, however, gladly bring my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion to the notice of the Committee.