Questions for School Board Candidates. SIR, In connection with your Candidature for the School Board I should be obliged if you would be good enough to answer the following questions. I. Name of Elector. Address of Elector. QUESTIONS. I am, yours faithfully, (A.) School Board Policy. SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION. Are you in favour of :— 1. The liberal provision of convenient school buildings, apparatus, gymnasiums and swimming baths? 2. Larger and better playgrounds, with equipments for physical recreation, to be opened on Sundays and after school hours? 3. Supplying decorations, pictures, models, &c., especially in the schools of poorer districts? 4. The construction of a central hall in all new schools, and where possible in existing schools? 5. The granting of school halls as cheaply as possible for public meetings under proper regulations? II. THE STAFF. 6. Will you support the provision for every school of a sufficient and competent trained teaching staff, and endeavour to lessen the excessive numbers of the present classes? ANSWERS. HE FABIAN SOCIETY consists of Socialists. A statement Tefits Principles, Rules, Conditions of Membership, etc., a list of lecturers, with their lectures and terms, and the following publications, can be obtained from The Secretary, at the Fabian Office, 276 Strand, London, W.C. "FABIAN ESSAYS IN SOCIALISM." (26th Thousand.) A full exposition of modern English Socialism in its latest and maturest phase. Library Edition, 6s. ; or, direct from the Secretary for Cash, 4/6 (postage 4§d.) Cheap Edition, Paper cover, 1s. ; ditto, plain cloth, 28. At all booksellers or post free from the Secretary for 1s. and 2s. respectively. FABIAN TRACTS. No. 1.-Why are the Many Poor? Price 6 for id.; Is. per 100. No. 5.-Facts for Socialists. A survey of the distribution of income and the condition of classes in England. 40th thousand. 16 pp., Id.; or 9d. per doz. No. 7.-Capital and Land. A similar survey of the distribution of property, with a criticism of the distinction sometimes set up between Land and Capital as instruments of production. 3rd edn.; 15th thousand. 16 pp., Id.; or 9d. per doz. No. 8.-Facts for Londoners. 56 pp., 6d. ; or 4/6 per doz. No. 9.-An Eight Hours Bill. Full notes explain the Trade Option clause and precedents on which the Bill is founded. A list of literature dealing with the hours of labor is appended. 20th thousand. 16 pp., Id. ; or 9d. per doz. No. 10.-Figures for Londoners. 40th thous. 4 pp., 6 for id.; Is. per 100. No. 11.-The Workers' Political Programme fully explains the politics of to-day from the working class point of view. 20th thousand. 20 pp., Id. ; or 9d. doz. No. 12.-Practicable Land Nationalization. 4 pp., 6 for Id.; or Is. 100. 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No. 41.-The History and Present Attitude of the Fabian Society. 3d. each, or 2s. 3d. per dozen.—(In the press.) The set post free for two shillings. Questions for School Board Candidates. SIR, Are Name of Elector... Address of Elector. QUESTIONS. I am, yours faithfully, (A.) School Board Policy. I.—SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION. you in favour of : 1. The liberal provision of convenient school buildings, apparatus, gymnasiums and swimming baths? 2. Larger and better playgrounds, with equipments for physical recreation, to be opened on Sundays and after school hours? 3. Supplying decorations, pictures, models, &c., especially in the schools of poorer districts? 4. The construction of a central hall in all new schools, and where possible in existing schools? 5. The granting of school halls as cheaply as possible for public meetings under proper regulations? II. THE STAFF. 6. Will you support the provision for every school of a sufficient and competent trained teaching staff, and endeavour to lessen the excessive numbers of the present classes ? ANSWERS. 9. The establishment of schools for the higher standards within the School Board area on similar lines to those under the Manchester and Leeds Boards, and making these and all other schools free? 10. The extension of Kindergarten teaching, object lessons, physical education, and instruction in the principles of handicraft, cookery, and practical domestic economy, music and drawing? 11. The provision of special departments for physically and mentally defective children? 12. The encouragement and development of free evening continuation classes in Board Schools? 13. The discontinuance of Bible Lessons and Prayers in the schools? IV.—PROPER TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES. 14. Will you insist that all employees shall be paid the Trade Union rate of wages, and that no employee shall work longer than eight hours per day or fortyeight hours per week? 15. Will you, in every possible case, and especially in the case of printing and building, support the direct employment of labour by the Board, instead of the intervention of a contractor? 16. Whenever it is found necessary to employ a contractor, will you insist upon the insertion, in all contracts for supplies, as well as for works, of clauses stipulating: (a) Against sub contracting or sweating? (b) For payment of Trade Union rate of wages, if any is fixed for that trade? (c) That the working day shall be that recognised by the Trade Union? 17. Will you support School Board employees in securing freedom of combination, and in establishing unions for themselves? 18. Will you urge that the scale of payment for women teachers should be the same as that for men? (B.) The Reform of the Laws dealing with Education and of the spirit in which they are administered. Will you support any attempt to provide that: : 19. No grant of public money shall be made to any school not controlled by a School Board? 20. Day and resident Training Colleges be established at convenient centres under full public control and free from sectarian influences? 21. Power be given to School Boards, pending the creation of a complete system of public secondary education, to establish, out of public funds, scholarships to be held at existing secondary schools? 22. Power be given to School Boards to provide free meals for children? 23. Power be given to School Boards to provide a crêche for every infant school? 24. Special magistrates be appointed to Ideal with School Board cases? 25. The age of compulsory attendance. of all scholars for the full time shall be raised to fourteen ? 26. Elementary Teachers, and Women, shall be eligible as Inspectors of schools ? 27. The School Board electoral areas in London shall be assimilated to the County Council and Parliamentary divisions? Signature of Candidate...... |