SCHOOL AGE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1930, Page 2

SCHOOL AGE

RISE !N ENGLAND. (United Dross Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 7. In the House of Commons, Sir C. P. Trevelyan (Minister of Education) moved the second reading of the School Age Bill. He said that it provided for the raising of the age from fourteen to fifteen, This was only a part of tlm proposed reorganisation of school life, the object of which was to ensure real education between the ages of 11 years and 15 for the children of the poorer classes. The members of the upper classes never failed to keep their sons at school until the ago of 17 or 18. and it was time that the children of the workers should he given the same opportunity. He said: “No bigger thing could be done for the country. The Bill is a charter for the. average child.”

Lord Eustace Percy moved the rejection of tiie Hill. He said that, instead of providing any solution of the problem of juvenile unemployment, the Bill would cause such violent fluctuations as seriously to increase the unemployment among young people in the next five years. The education of those whom the Bill intended to benefit was half carried out in the factories after school.

The Bill was read file second time by 294 votes to 217.