HOME LESSONS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—As in your article on Home Lessons you mention the Bradford School Board, may I be allowed to say that that Board has no intention of evading the law as to home lessons, as laid down in the recent decision in the Court of Queen's Bench, but that they have already issued instructions to their teachers to act in "strict accordance with the decision of the Court." It seems to me a little unkind in the Spectator to urge upon that Board a line of conduct which would inevitably cause their severance from the Electorate before the expiration of another year, should they carry it out. I think also the Spectator is not fortunate in referring to the educational progress of Germany as an argu- ment for home lessons, as not only are they not given to young children in that country, but the actual school hours are shorter, which might seem to some people to suggest a connection between educational progress and moderate hours of study.
The real reason of the greater progress made by German children will, I think, however, be found in the fact that Germany has recognised that a child, to be well educated, must be taught by a trained and efficient teacher ; and I think we want a second Swift to add a chapter to the immortal voyage to the Brobdingnags to show the folly of trying to carry on what in apparent sarcasm we call the "great work" of education, by means of police magistrates, attendance officers, and children.
As to the question whether any deaths or cases of illness have occurred from over-pressure, no doubt a powerful Govern- ment can suppress all inconvenient medical testimony ; but I cannot conclude without commenting on the fact that while neither the nation, nor the parents, school managers, and teachers, who are vitally interested in the matter, are allowed to become acquainted with Dr. Crichton-Browne's report, the Press should be able to comment upon it publicly.-1 am, Sir,
EDITH LUPTON,
Member of the Bradford School Board.
Claremont Studio, St. Mary's Terrace, W., Tune 23rd.
[We have never doubted that for very young children home lessons should not be enforced. We have no doubt that for elder children they often ought to be enforced.—En. Spectator.]
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