§ MR. EWARTasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Robert Barklie, having been suspended for some irregularities in 1866, had his case subsequently investigated by the National Board of Education, through their head district Inspectors; and, whether, as a result of that investigation, and the consideration of further evidence, the National Board came to the conclusion that Mr. Barklie should be recognized as a teacher of the York Street National School, Belfast, and that his salary should be paid from date of his taking charge thereof?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the facts are as stated in the Question.
§ MR. BIGGARasked whether the following quotations from the Report of the District National School Inspector did not apply to Mr. Barklie, about whom the hon. Member for Belfast (Mr. Ewart) asked this Question:—
Not only have the candidates copied, but in many cases they have been aided and abetted by the teachers, who sent to the examination-room answers to the questions on the paper to be copied by the pupils, and from one to the other;and, also, whether the same Inspector did not characterize this as an "extensive and organized system of fraud;" and, is so, whether the gentleman was still considered fitted for a position of trust under the National Board?
§ MR. TREVELYANI merely said that the facts were as stated. I gave no opinion on the matter; and if the hon. Member gives Notice of his Question I will answer it in two or three days.