§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that resentment has been felt by local education authorities because they, as well as teachers, had not been consulted before the publication of Circular 1596 and that, in most cases, the response of parents and pupils was so small as not to warrant the opening of schools in their area; and whether he will now withdraw the further operation of the circular and ensure that greater care shall be taken in future to ascertain what need exists for opening schools in the holidays before issuing a similar circular?
§ Mr. ButlerIn only a very few cases have local education authorities protested on the ground that they were not consulted before the issue of Circular 1596. I am aware that the attendance at a number of the schools which were kept open was small, but this was in many cases due to inadequate preparation, organisation and explanation of the arrangements to children and parents, for which the shortness of the time available was to some extent responsible. In determining the extent to which the measures suggested in the circular shall be adopted in future holiday periods, local education authorities and governing bodies will no doubt be guided by the experience gained in the summer holidays.