The Education Act, 1918

Abstract

LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL DRAFT SCHEME. THE Education Act of 1918, which among its provisions requires that draft schemes for giving effect to them shall be submitted by the local education authorities, has resulted in a remarkably interesting document just issued by the Education Committee of the London County Council, in which is set forth not only a scheme for the administration of the Act within the county, but also a most informing summary of the history of education in London during the nineteenth century and of the various legislative enactments passed from time to time, notably those of 1870 and 1902, to increase the facilities and improve the quality of education especially for the large population immediately within its area, now amounting to upwards of 4½ millions. The report further makes clear the present activities of the Committee with its 951 separate elementary schools, in which 695,197 pupils are enrolled, with an average attendance of 590,633, from which figures it would appear that more than 100,000 children are constantly absent. The schools are staffed by 20,000 teachers (less than one-third are men), of whom only 300 are uncertificated. In addition to th ordinary elementary schools there was organised in 1910 a system of central schools to the number of 51, distributed more or less evenly throughout the County of London, and filled with pupils selected partly by means of junior county scholarships at about eleven years of age with a view to an advanced course of training of four years.