732 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION L. 
A. is in advance of B.; at fifteen they are equal; at sixteen B. is ahead. I am 
sure of this.’ 
As a whole the weight of opinion is strongly against any increase in vocational 
schools for children who have not completed their primary education. 
Question IX. 
‘ What is the average size of the classes in your Primary Schools?’ 
I find that the average size of the classes in the Counties is thirty-four, and 
in the Boroughs forty-two, and they vary from over sixty-three down to ten. 
The smaller average in the Counties is evidently due to the large proportion of 
rural schools. 
Remarks. 
1. ‘I find that from whatever side one approaches reform one is brought up 
against this nightmare of large classes.’ 
2. ‘Classes are smaller in the Non-Provided Schools.’ 
QUESTION X. 
My next question concerned the Counties only. I was anxious to ascertain 
the effect of the Clause of the Act which places on the locality the task of finding 
the greater portion of the money for additional buildings, viz. :— 
‘Do you consider Par. 18, 1 (a), (c), (d) of the 1902 Act to work harshly or 
to the disadvantage of educational progress?’ 
It appears that some 40 per cent. of the Directors are of opinion that the 
effect of the Clause is unsatisfactory. It must be remembered that it is not 
probable that the officials of County Councils would regard this matter from an 
impartial point of view, for, no doubt, the existing conditions lighten the burden 
of the County rates. It is somewhat surprising that in such circumstances the 
percentage of those answering in the affirmative is so large. 
Remarks. 
1. ‘Makes the Education Rate very unequal in the County and tends to 
hinder the provision of new buildings.’ 
2. ‘I think it would be better to have the total capital charge made a County 
one.” 
3. ‘It must be admitted that the charge on the locality of three-fourths of 
the capital expenditure often causes serious local opposition.’ 
4. ‘All the charges for education within the area should fall on the County 
rate; there is no other logical and defensible plan.’ 
5. ‘There is too much tendency to spend on bricks and mortar; the local 
opposition, therefore, is not wholly bad.’ 
6. ‘Educational benefits cannot be restricted within the limits of certain 
parishes.’ 
7. ‘The result is strong local opposition to the provision of desirable local 
accommodation.’ 
8. ‘ Thoroughly bad in theory and works very harshly in practice.’ 
9. ‘At first sight seems detrimental to progress; but real progress can only 
be made by carrying the general public with us in our work, and to go too fast 
only implies a set-back in the near future.’ 
QuesTIOon XI. 
‘Has your Council delegated to your Education Committee all the powers 
permitted by the Act? If not, are you in favour of such delegation? ’ 
I find that while over 90 per cent. of the County Authorities have delegated 
all powers, less than one-half of the County Boroughs and three-fifths of the 
Boroughs and Urban Districts have adopted the same course. An overwhelming 
majority (85 per cent.) of the Directors of all classes are in favour of full 
delegation. 
Remarks. 
1. ‘Yes, thank goodness.’ 
_ 2. “Yes; we should be saved infinite trouble. Some Town Councillors have 
little sympathy with education.’ 
