MR. (MANNING (Northampton, E.)asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether his attention has been called to the recent inquest, at Newport Pagnell, on a boy named Harry Pack, and to the following facts:—That it was found that Harry Pack had died from inflammation of the membrane of the brain; that evidence was given that the assistant master of the National School had struck Harry Pack on the back of the head with a ruler; that, although the assistant master stated that ''he was certain he did not strike one of the lads with a ruler," he admitted that "he had touched them with his hands;" that the jury appended to their verdict the rider—
That, though there is not sufficient evidence to prove to the jury that a blow had been struck, they wish to record their opinion that-corporal punishment in schools should not in any ease be inflicted by any other than the headmaster;and, whether he will, in view of such cases, further strengthen the Revised Instructions to Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools on the subject of corporal punishment, and take any further steps necessary to prevent corporal punishment being initiated by assistant masters, and especially to prevent punishment in the form of blows on the heads of children?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT (Sir WILLIAM HART DYKE) (Kent, Dartford)My attention has been called to the case referred to, and I desire to point out to the hon. Member that the present Instructions to Her Majesty's Inspectors contain an expression of opinion preisely similar to that placed on record by the jury. Where such a rule is not observed, it would be the duty of the Inspector to take it into consideration in assessing the "merit" grant; and in gross cases it would be competent for the Department to suspend the certificate, or refuse all recognition of the teacher,