HC Deb 17 November 1884 vol 293 cc1848-9
MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether the strongly-marked difference of opinion in the London School Board as to the expediency of the Board, rather than the Education Department, undertaking an inquiry into the alleged overpressure in elementary schools, and the fact that the Na tional Union of Elementary Teachers, representing 13,000 teachers, have endorsed the conclusions of Dr. Crichton Browne and condemned the Report of Mr. Fitch, will induce him to reconsider his refusal to institute an inquiry by impartial medical men into the grievances complained of?

MR. MUNDELLA

I cannot admit the accuracy of the latter part of the hon. Member's statement. The letter from the Secretary of the National Union of Elementary Teachers distinctly states that— Into the medical part of Dr. Browne's Report the Executive are not prepared to enter. I am daily in receipt of evidence from teachers, many of whom are members of the National Union, entirely dissenting from the views set forth in Mr. Heller's letter. I may also remind the hon. Member that there are 50,000 teachers in England and Wales—not including pupil teachers—and 6,000 certificated teachers in Scotland. The London School Board having the whole matter under their consideration, I must decline to take any step which would practically take it out of their hands.