asked the Minister for Education if his attention had been drawn to the recent deportation from England of two persons of 15 and 16 years of age; if there were any special circumstances which justified the deplorable standard of education of these two girls; and if any effort will be made to provide further education for these two young persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Deportation of Girls from England.
I have seen a reference in the public Press to the case in question. In the newspaper report it was stated that one of the girls was able to read in English although she managed better in Irish, and that the other girl stated she could not read or write.
I have had inquiries made and have ascertained that the two girls in question attended a national school during a period of about nine years. One of the girls is a member of a large family in poor circumstances. She attended school very irregularly after she passed the fourth standard, but in spite of her irregular attendance was considered by her teachers as well up to the sixth class standard when she left school. The other girl was much below the normal standard of intelligence, was difficult to control and to teach, and she made practically no progress during her school life, even in penmanship.
It is permissible under the regulations for children to be enrolled in national schools up to the age of 18 years, and if the parents of these two children desire to have further primary education provided for them they should make application to the manager or principal teacher of the national school which they desire that their children should attend.
Does not the Minister think it is a deplorable circumstance that a young girl should leave school without being able to read and write and that he ought to see that some provision is made in this case?
That would require further examination as to whether the child might not require a special form of tuition and I do not know whether an examination of a medical as well as an educational nature might not be necessary to establish what is the position of one of the children.