The New Education Bill and Local Museums

Abstract

I DESIRE to call the immediate attention of those solicitous for the progress and improvement of local museums to the opportunity afforded by the Education Bill now before Parliament for obtaining some public recognition of their value in any scheme for the encouragement of secondary education. By some County Councils the Technical Instruction Act has been construed as permitting grants being made from the “Customs and Excise” funds to local museums, but other Councils have not so acted, and it is very desirable that this point should be definitely settled. All that would be required is the insertion in Section 12 (page 8 of the Bill as printed), and perhaps best at the end of Clause 2, of words giving power to the “Education Authority” to aid in the establishment and maintenance of museums, whether the property of a public body or a private society, provided that such museums are devoted to the instruction of the public, and are, of course, under such regulations and control as might be deemed necessary.