MR. O'CONNOR POWERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he is aware that the notice recently issued by the managers of national schools in Ireland by the National Board, whereby the services of an assistant teacher in any school is made dependent upon an average attendance of at least seventy pupils, is regarded generally by the managers of those schools as detrimental to the interests of education; if he will state what object the Commissioners have had in augmenting the amount of attendance required in these cases from fifty to seventy in female schools, and from sixty to seventy in male schools; and, whether the Commissioners are legally empowered to make the foregoing alteration?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERYes, Sir; I am aware of the circular referred to, and, in my opinion, it is decidedly a step in the right direction. In England, one 416 assistant teacher is allowed to each 100 pupils only; and, therefore, at a time when additions to other branches of educational expenditure in Ireland are being urged upon the Government, it appears especially necessary to take advantage of legitimate opportunities for effecting corresponding retrenchments. I am not aware of any legal impediment to the action of the Commissioners in this matter.