§ 65. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will undertake a survey to ascertain 128W how many schools are promoting courses in race relations and a better understanding between races.
§ Mr. Denis HowellWhile I agree that the schools can play an important part in helping children to understand other countries and peoples, I doubt whether special courses in race relations are the method which most experienced teachers would choose to adopt. Attention has already been drawn in the Department's Circular 7/65 to the importance of giving children such understanding; there are many ways in which teachers can do this in the normal course of their teaching.
§ 66. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to train teachers for the purpose of instruction in schools and adult educational institutions in good race relations.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Department will have held a total of 15 short courses in this field during the period 1962–66, catering for nearly 800 teachers and lecturers. The courses are designed to help teachers to understand more of other races and countries, and to appreciate the problems of overseas students in this country. Colleges of education include appropriate references to race relations in their courses of initial training. Some colleges and also institutes of education are running, for experienced teachers, courses which are particularly concerned with the problems of immigrant children; Circular 7/65 encouraged them and local authorities to extend their activities in this field.