§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether his attention has been called to the dismissal of Mr. E. Draper, who had been for twenty-six years master of the parochial school of St. Giles, Northampton, for "want of sympathy with the general religious and church work of the parish, as evinced by his long-continued absence from the church," and the unsatisfactory Government Report just received; whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Draper's school earned more than 17s.. 6d. per head and the "good merit" grant, the Department has its dissatisfaction with Mr. Draper; and, whether want of sympathy with the general religious and church work of a parish is to be regarded as a fitting reason for the dismissal of a master of a school receiving a Government grant?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Education Department has no complaint whatever 869 against Mr. Draper. He is a good and successful teacher, his school was well reported on at the last examination, and he has earned a good grant. But it must be borne in mind that the teachers are the servants of the managers, not of the Education Department; and we have no power to interfere with the dismissal of a teacher by the managers of a voluntary school, whether the reasons for dismissal are justifiable or not.