§ MR. PATRICK MARTINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the several declarations made in the south and west of Ireland by so many influential and experienced managers of national schools, condemning the contemplated restriction of assistant teachers in the schools under their charge, and stating authoritatively from their knowledge as managers that the recent change made by the Board of National Education requiring a newly increased average of pupils in the schools to entitle them to the benefit of assistant teachers would be seriously detrimental to the efficiency of the teaching staff, and most prejudicial to the interests of education; can he state on whose suggestions such change was thus made by the Board of National Education, and with what objects; and, having regard to the emphatic disapprovals thus manifested, does he intend to make any suggestions; and, if so, to what effect, in reference to this contemplated innovation on the former practice?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, I am aware that objections have been made in some quarters to the scheme alluded to. The hon. and learned Gentleman asks on whose suggestion the change was made. I am unable to say what suggestions had most weight with the Commissioners of Education; but among others were some made by myself. As some misapprehension appears to exist upon this subject, I wish to point out how the case stands. In England, one assistant teacher is allowed for every 100 pupils. In Ireland, until a few years since, one assistant was allowed for every 75 pupils, when an alteration was made under which one assistant was allowed for every 60 in the case of males, and for every 50 in the case of females. Under the new rule of the Commissioners one assistant is allowed for every 70 pupils, male or female. Before adopting this alteration they caused a conference to be held of the head inspectors, chiefs of inspection, and secretaries, among whom a very general opinion was expressed to the effect that the proposed plan would not operate in any way injuriously to the interests of education. I certainly look upon it as a decided improvement.