Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/84

 32 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — UNITED KINGDOM

holiday or school camps; centres and equipment for physical training, playing fields, school baths and swimming baths ; and other facilities for social and physical training. Provision must be made for the supply and training of teachers ; and teachers and students may be aided to carry on research. County and County Borough Councils must also provide for the medical inspection of children and young persons in secondary schools, con- tinuation schools, and certain other non-elementary schools and educational institutions. To these purposes the local education authorities may apply money raised by rates, besides devoting to them the residue under the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890, and they may borrow money. Grants are to be made to them by the Board of Education* amounting to not less than half the net expenditure recognised by the Board. They have power to provide scholarships, including allowances for maintenance, and to pay fees ; in schools pi ovided by them they must not pay for religious instruction ; in schools not provided by them they can neither impose nor forbid religious instruction. In 1917-18 there were in England and Wales 1,061 recognised secondary schools on the Grant List, with 238,314 full-time pupils (123,353 boys and 114 961 girls). In addition there were 134 other secondary schools recognised by the Board of Education as efficient, with probably about 26,000 pupils. In 1917-18 there were also recognised 10 preparatory schools (i.e., preparatory to secondary schools proper) with 1,140 pupils. The Board also recognised a number of institutions providing technical instruction courses and day technical classes ; schools of nautical training ; university tutorial classes ; schools of art ; and evening and other part-time schools. Examinations in science and art are held by the_ Board, and scholarships, exhibitions, &c, are awarded to successful competitors.

In Scotland, under the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, the local authorities for the purposes of education are called ' education authorities, and the 'education areas' for which they are elected are the burghs of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Leith, and the counties, including the remaining burghs. These authorities work through ' school management committees,' representing the authority, the parents and the teachers. Adequate provision of all forms of primary, intermediate, and secondary education in day schools, without payment ol fees, must be made by these authorities. They may grant assistance, by payment of fees (in cases where fees are pavable), travelling expenses, maintenance allowances, &o to suitable persons, to facilitate their attendance at intermediate or secondary schools, or at universities, training colleges, or other educational institutions. A county education authority may also provide books tor the use of the resident adult population. Continuation classes must be provided for young persons under the age of 16 years on a certain date, the age limit ultimately becoming 18 years, and attendance is required lor at least 820 hours per year between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Exemption from such attendance may be granted in certain circumstances. In 1918-19 there were 56 "rant-receiving secondary schools, with an avenge attendance in the secondary departments of 14,933 (and a total attendance ol 21,828).

In frOM* tfceW is an Intermediate Education Hoard. Its income is derived partly from the intei est on the capital sum of one million sterling (Irish Church Funds), partly from an annual sum of 46,567/. provided under the Kevenue Act, 1911, in lieu ot the amount formerly payable under the l.oeal Taxation (Customs and Kxeise Act), 1890 '1 he income in 1919 from these and certain other sources was 86,818fc In addition, under he Intermediate Kducatioli Act, Ireland, 1914, the Hoard received trom 1 arha- ment a sum of 40,000/., known as the Tearhers' Salaries (.rant, and a rurthM turn of 50,000/. voted by Parliament.