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8
Lordship Lane (Mixed) 1 —
S. Michael's.
Boys 2 —
Girls 5 —
Infants 3 —
10 —
St. Paul's (Mixed) 2 2
Private Schools 20 1
No Schools 80 36
Boys 1 —
S. Michael's (Tottenhall
Road) 1 —
The fact that the average attendance is the basis on which the
Education grant is given tends to cause an undue influence to be
exercised on parents to send their children to School when in an
unfit state. To a certain extent there is an antagonism between
the interests of the public health and the apparent interest of the
Education Authority, and an utterly illogical and improper
magnification of the importance of a high average attendance as a
test of efficiency is caused.
All the recent contributions to the questions of National
Education of any value emphasize the paramount importance of
securing the highest possible physical development of the children,
and I hope the Council will discourage any attempt to suggest that
the average attendance of Scholars, whether high or low, reflects
the slightest credit or discredit on the Masters or Mistresses in
charge of any particular School. The Masters and Mistresses should
be relieved of any responsibility in this matter and their time and
energy devoted to the far more valuable and important duties of
their profession.