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Catalogue Reference:CAB/24/253
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ii
n til
w m
0 A B I
N E T .
EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE.
FIRST
1/
At
their
Conclusion
5)
Educational
(CP.
Meeting
the
policy
37 ( 3 4 ) )
and
That
on F e b r u a r y
Cabinet
by
14th,
had b e f o r e
the
President
1934,
(Cabinet
5
them a Memorandum
of
the Board o f
(34)
on
Education
agreeds-
a Cabinet
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
REPORT.
Committee,
c o m p o s e d as
follows
Lord president of the Council ( I n the
p r e s i d e n t of the Board of Education,
Chancellor of the Exchequer,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r f a r ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r S c o t l a n d ,
P r e s i d e n t of the Board of Trade,
M i n i s t e r of Labour,
postmaster General,
Chair),
s h o u l d c o n s i d e r E d u c a t i o n a l p o l i c y on t h e b a s i s o f
C P . 37 ( 3 4 ) and r e p o r t i n due c o u r s e t o t h e C a b i n e t .
2.
The C o m m i t t e e h a v e b e e n
with the President
development
of
23rd J a n u a r y ,
question
1935, w i t h
in r e l a t i o n
Minister
raising
b o t h to the
from
the
General E l e c t i o n .
annexed,
the
school
for
In his
comes, from
any p r a c t i c a l
the
president
to
a g e , more
deputation
raising
expresses
disadvantageous
were furnished
leaving
the
Memorandum.,
politically
to
time
on
(E.
t o b e a d o p t e d by t h e Government
forthcoming
council
president
They
a Memorandum b y
the
from t i m e
Education with regard t o
Policy.
the a t t i t u d e
of
consultation
t h e B o a r d of
Educational
with regard t o
the
of
in
the
a copy
view that
which
it
would
a b s t a i n when t h e G e n e r a l
declaration
of
policy
(34)
5
upon
prime
age and t o
of
the
particularly
to the
school
the
on t h i s
the
is
be
Election
subject.
He draws attention,, however', to the fact that the simple raising
of the age for compulsory education from 14 to 15 is not by any
means the only method for extending the period of compulsory
schooling, and that there is a considerable "body of opinion which
favours other methods a s , for instance, the Continuation Schools
system,
3.
The president of the Board of Education accordingly
recommends
that a Departmental Committee should be set up composed, of
representatives of local Education Authorities, teachers,
Industrialists, including commerce and agriculture, and.
educationists, with some such terms of reference as these ­
u
T o consider and report what form or forms of
extended education on a compulsory basis beyond the
present age of 14+ will, when financial
considerations
permit, be best suited to the circumstances of England
and Wales, regard being had to the educational and. social
advantages likely to be derived, to the organisation and.
requirements of trade, commerce, industry and agriculture,
and to variations in local conditions".
He goes on to suggest that the announcement of the
Government' s intention to set up such a. Committee might
conveniently be made when the prime Minister receives the
deputation from the Council for Raising the School Age.
4,
The president of the Board of Education in his Memorandum,
whilst recognising that there may be some hesitation at the
thought of appointing yet another Committee, draws attention to
the difficulties to be faced, at the General Election if this
course were not adopted.
He emphasises, also, that on educational
grounds it is desirable that an authoritative opinion on the
subject of reference should be obtained.
The Committee would
n o t , however, "be in a position to complete their survey until
after the General Election, and the President suggests that, this
being
so, pressure
question
of
raising
that b e f o r e
the
school
committing
representative
question
on a C a n d i d a t e
in
all
schools,
line
though they were
elementary
educational
financial
decision
5,
advance
the
assistance
of
The C o m m i t t e e h a v e
this
the Board of
Education
the
but
of
6.
at
of
report
being
The g e n e r a l
consultation
President
well
to
problem w i l l
express
the
of
him t h r o u g h t h e
interests
of
to
industry
hope t h a t
it
policy
the
examine
the
grants
take
to
the
non-provided
their
part
in
any
attaching
report
before
to
to
and
the
the
views
to
the
on t h e
the
Committee
ordinary
the f i n a n c i a l
would be p o s s i b l e
so f a r
and
The
of
in
a
policy.,
on t h i s
as i t
the
a
the
special
of
for
of
that
t h e Board
opinion
channels,
and a g r i c u l t u r e .
is
subject
emerge,
aspect
to
chance
In framing
outside
in
of
oh t h i s
advisers.
inquiry
and
Election.
the president
inevitably
feel
lines
Government
General
of
to
the Committee
the
of
General
t h e r e would be l i t t l e
consult
the
the
Committee
his policy
departmental
aspects
of
probably be necessary
majority
to formulate
tion being given also
the
since
to
the
statement
report
consideration
embarrassing
would be o b l i g e d
a s on o t h e r
available
will
course would be f o r
denominational
the
t h e Members o f
the
a
might
committee's
a Departmental
view of
with his
that
on
They a g r e e w i t h t h e P r e s i d e n t
available before
Education himself
suggests,
careful
it
the E l e c t i o n ,
more d e s i r a b l e
the
it.
educational
p r o p o s e d would be g r a v e l y
its
upon
of
the
and c o n d i t i o n s
the
that
by
as r e g a r d s
to play
await
given
a majority
appointment
Candidates
of
Memorandum.
make a d e c l a r a t i o n
Election;
assisted
the Government
expressed in
that
satisfied
extent
must
he
me t
s e t up t o
Similarly,
Government,
s c h o o l s must b e
his views
await
w h i c h had b e e n
voluntary
that
he must
its bearings.
the
express
age c o u l d he
himself
committee
to
would
as
be
cohsidera­
subject
and
Committee
the President
to
to
reach
conclusions
their
being
7,
and s u b m i t
considered
The C o m m i t t e e h a v e
To r e f e r t h e
in the l i g h t
them t o
the
and a d o p t e d b e f o r e
now
Cabinet
with
the General
a view
to
Election.
agreed,-
question to the Cabinet f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n
of the views expressed above.
S i g n e d on b e h a l f
of
the
STANLEY BALDWIN
Committee
Q n 9
c3 £ ti
I S DOCUMENT I S
THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT.
ECREI.
.(34)
5.
COPY N o .
CABINET.
Educational
Compulsory
Policy
Committee.
Education beyond
Memorandum by
President
Since
further
the
thought
of
to
the
the Board o f
the l a s t
the matter
question
of
raising
particularly
in
r e l a t i o n both
the Prime M i n i s t e r
and t o
the
finances
question
of
Lords,
year
order
is
of
school
to-day
On t h e
election,
or
with regard
subject
to
the
I
to
at
which
raising
to
look
leaving
the
age,
for Raising
have
given
attitude
upon
more
forthcoming
h a s b e e n no
July,
deputation
the School
avoid
it
saying
when
to
the
think
round to
the
in
addition
would,
practical
will
be
with
in
to
Age
of
of
an
extra
something
are
very
of
than
difficult
the
it
for
general
on t h e i r
policy
schools,
and t h i s
is
a
dissociated
from t h e
question
age.
therefore
s e e what
the
included),
politics
comes,
the
the
t h e House
allowances
election
voluntary
leaving
dec I t
something b e f o r e
be r e a d i l y
school
of
such change
age
as i t
maintenance
other hand,
cannot
that
(costing,
t h e bounds
grants
when I
leaving
the view
if
least
do n o t
to
school
age,
any n e a r e r
the-Government
begin
last
the
£8,000,000,
was t h e n .
of
since
raising
the
the Government's
school
there
as w o u l d w a r r a n t
to
of
the Committee I
election.
assume t h a t
national
of
from t h e Council
general
I
Education.
meeting
the
14.
that
it
is
too soon
our p o l i c y
in
this
to
matter
should be,
either
when f i n a n c i a l
when t h e
general
election
minds
some o f
my c o l l e a g u e s
of
wisdom o f
(l)
the
raising
danger
of
controversies,
voters
of
hovever,
getting
and (2)
cannot
politically
reinforced
as
bodies,
who s e e
the
justification
who f a v o u r
in
for
the
step
alternative
course
advantages
is
school
there
the
age
is
room
for
rise
favours
d o u b t how
in general,
far
and i n
it
is
methods
weighty
for
and. o f
there
which
is
and I
those
I
not
have
some
think
offers
definite
aspects.
though r a i s i n g
h a s much v o c a l
the
support,
w o u l d commend i t s e l f
certain
letter
correspondence
would
grounds,
quarters,
would be l i k e l y
Kenneth L e e ' s
there
it
any
increased
and p o l i t i c a l
exemptions
of
denominational
pure n e g a t i o n ,
course
be
these,
from
schools,
whether
side,
would
as
a g e an
t o be r e m e m b e r e d t h a t
7 t h and t h e
other
the
educational
and a g r i c u l t u r e ,
show t h a t
the
of
with
difficulties
educational
a middle
15 w i t h o u t
u n p o p u l a r S i r
January
fact
has
to
of
of
to v o l u n t a r y
of
value
it
comes,
to w h i c h
extending
to
it
be
definitely
of
has
given
opinion
which
the period, of
to
e.g,
i n "The Times"
industrial
the
denominational
Such a c o u r s e
criticism
that
that
the
as t o
other
such r e a s o n s
election
on p u r e l y
to
electoral
continuing
raising
in i t s
electorate
industry
for
in
grounds
involved, i n
On t h e
or
that
doubts
on t h e
conclusion
asking myself
in
both
It
the
realise
all,
policy,
grants
been
there
of
joint
accordingly
that
the
when t h e
declaration
us i n
at
improve,
may he
policy.
t h e y may be by
involve
there
the u n c e r t a i n
escape
abstain,
I
ourselves
disadvantageous,
to
practical
held,
question
a raising-the-age
I
finance,
the
is
conditions
compulsory
S 7£
£ (J
f
6*
schooling,.
Moreover,
in
the
regarding
general
prolonging
education
conditions
of
going into
unnecessary
t i m e comes
that
alternative
educational
adoption
parts
suited to
four
possible
it
(4)
A combination, with m o d i f i c a t i o n s ,
these a l t e r n a t i v e s .
old
system,
and many r e f o r m e r s
children
reason.
It
would f i t
better
Centres
school
might
than
life.
disadvantages
segregation
the
merits
of
that
I
course
(as
in
juvenile
w o u l d be t o
from
however,
they
think
set
those
it
of
the
of
for
an e x t r a
minimise
year
of
canvass
alternatives,
bat
school
kind
of
system
Instruction
on
to
some
such
short period
to
of
this
some s u c h
as
u n e m p l o y e d and t h e
not
broadest
continuation
plan
Centres,
from
of
transition
by t h e
that
two
organised Junior
addition
to
the
irregularity
employment *
the
I
relative
r e m i n d my
exist.
am d i s p o s e d
I
favour
would c e r t a i n l y
the p o s s i b l e
colleagues
industry
the
for
Schools
be s a i d on
easing
the
viz;­
exemptions
be a r g u e d t h a t
resulting
am c o n c e r n e d h e r e ,
to
when
exemptions,
Continuation
the newly
inherent
of
attendance
also
simple
It
for
into
with
the
15 w i t h o u t
a good deal
think,
c o u l d be made,
A system o f p a r t - t i m e
14 t o 15 o r * 1 6 .
14-year
Without
possible,
a g e t o 15 w i t h
employment.
policy
varying
I
(5)
social
of
are,
R a i s i n g the
beneficial
of
united
the
the country.
(2)
grounds
not
method
Raising
is
is
there
upon w h i c h
age t o
this
(1)
inere
of
of
details
advance i s
the
of
as n e c e s s a r i l y
different
lines
opinion
is
accordingly
co f e e l
educationally
up a D e p a r t m e n t a l
that
the r i g h t
Committee
our
wisest
course)
composed
of
representatives
teachers,
of
Local
industrialists
Education
(including
agriculture)
and e d u c a t i o n i s t s ,
reference
these
as
"To
and
extended education
present
age
permit,
be b e s t
England
and W a l e s ,
of
14+ w i l l ,
suited
in
up such
Council
for
colleagues
to
this
the thought
must c o n s i d e r
likely
do n o t
be
to
take
three
of
the
find
advantages
of
forms
of
that
of
the
likely
to
be
and r e q u i r e m e n t s
conveniently
the deputation
of
and
to
unnatural
committee,
alternatives
themselves
b e made
from
when
the
reaction
may b e a f e e l i n g
another
intention
Age.
a not
proposal
lines
the
considerations
the Government's
the School
yet
"basis beyond
and a g r i c u l t u r e ,
might
of
but
w i t h which
faced at
some such s t e p .
possible
of
conditions".
receives
recognise
or
b e i n g had t o
industry
a Committee
Raising
I
terms
the circumstances
Regard
local
the Prime M i n i s t e r
is
to
the o r g a n i s a t i o n
commerce,
what form
when f i n a n c i a l
derived,
set
and
some s u c h
on a c o m p u l s o r y
The announcement
at
report
and s o c i a l
variations
to
with
educational
trade,
commerce
­
consider
to
Authorities,
I
the
I
my
revulsion
think
we
Government
the E l e c t i o n
There w i l l ,
of
if
we
anticipate,
which t h e Government might
then
take :­
(ij
they could
prevented
(ii)
they
the
say
them
that
unspecified
age
considerations
from d o i n g a n y t h i n g ;
could, announce
school
financial
as
date,
their
from
and
intention
'
to
some s p e c i f i e d
raise
or
v
*) py p?
(iii)
they
could
extension
for
to
advise
view p o l i t i c a l l y
to
he
alienate
enjoy;
been
that
I
and
that
Setting
and cons
intention
is
of
lay
time
themselves
therefore,
can
committee
the p o s s i b l e
as I
have s a i d ,
The
second, m i g h t
us o p e n
setting
that
and,
to
my.
well
likely
the
about
the
to
obvious
committee
alternatives
we h a d
it.
suggestion
indeed,
t h o s e whose minds
In
s u p p o r t w h i c h we now
be s u p p o r t e d by
justification
to
up a
called
an e n q u i r y n e c e s s a r y
in
up a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
of
set
was
and w o u l d he
industrial
we t h o u g h t
one w h i c h
the
to
is,
unwise,
t h i r d would
think,
some
schooling
disadvantageous.
if
that
them.
an u n c o n s c i o n a b l e
committee
compulsory
educationally
and t h e
the view
alternative
a good deal
criticism
of
and t h e i r
The f i r s t
prove
express
to
solid
a
argument,
the n e c e s s i t y
examine
would
are not
of
the
for
pros
commend
c l o s e d upon
this
subj e c t .
To
conclusions
be
set
of
up a C o m m i t t e e
the Committee
embarrassing,
definitely
opinion
that
but i n
desire,
on t h e
subject
on i n f o r m a l
be
and t h e
afforded
their
the
be may n o t
the p r e s e n t
of
our
grounds,
own c o n c l u s i o n s
teaching
profession,
opportunity
of
an
the
authoritative
is
not
enough
d e p a r tin en t a l l y
the
interests,
or
Local
such
may r i g h t l y
a formal
what
we do
It
Our p a r t n e r s ,
and t h e o t h e r
sure
infrequently
instance
the R e f e r e n c e .
advice.
Education A u t h o r i t i e s ,
industry
will
on e d u c a t i o n a l
we s h o u l d f o r m
proceed
without being
submission
as
claim
of
views.
And t h e
further
justified
appointment
on t h e
of
ground
such a C o m m i t t e e c a n
that,
at
a time
when
be
to
(
financial
made,
it
as t o
the
is
less
fairly
circumstances
is
our b u s i n e s s
form w h i c h
be c r i t i c i s e d
the
examination
importance
time
of
to
as
of
magnitude
complete
of
7 .'j :
question
statement
that
report
the
of
examine
the
as r e g a r d s
wish
of
to
the
of
question
to
the
intended
to
conditions
would
should
enable
in a l l
the
regard
being
to
to
we c o u l d
say
non-provided
-part
them
attaching
to
to,
in
that
c o u l d be met
he must
which had been
an i m p o r t a n t
set
educational
well
must b e
advance,
of,
assistance
report,
up
section
schools
the Committee's
the
on w h i c h we may
the extent
a
Similarly,
elementary
financial
by
await
we w e r e
do s o ,
views
i
while
any
to
election.
bearings.
to
the
express his
age
schools,
encouraging
well
the
a position
general
himself
its
be
attach
work u n t i l
in
committee
voluntary
their
p u r p o s e must a w a i t
of
be
school
committing
representative
to play
and h a v i n g
the
not
constructive
to
on a c a n d i d a t e
raising
before
assisted
get
after
finance
election.
would n o t
until
something
that
as i t
:
electorate,
satisfied
the
guidance
could
:
grants
say
for
And I
would not
pressure
'
delay
from
summer,
survey
lines
being
when
t o make s u c h e n q u i r y
time
the problem,
so,
:
to
early
their
This being
on t h e
or
take
inasmuch
problem.
the decision
an a d v a n c e
authoritative
on t h e s e
enforced
the whole
of
should
dilatory,
- The C o m m i t t e e
spring
obtain
Action
of
separated in point
late
to
admit
such a d v a n c e
intrue table.
utilising
do n o t
7 o­
and
for
and
the
this
and t h e
decision
t h e G- ov ernm en t up o n i t .
I
colleagues
ask^ therefore,
to
seek
the
up.- o f
a Pepartmental
given
above.
2 3rd J a n u a r y ,
1935.
for
sanction
the authority
of
the
Committee w i t h t h e
Cabinet
terras
o f my
to
of
H o
the
setting
reference