§ MR. JOHN GORDON (Londonderry, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that some manager of national schools in Ireland prohibit the teachers under their control from attending or becoming members of national teachers' associations, or insist as a condition of their appointment to schools that teachers should perform without remuneration duties other than those of teachers of such schools; whether the Board of National Education in Ireland has sanctioned this or has issued any circular or instructions in reference thereto; and whether steps will be taken to remedy the alleged evil.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Commissioners have no official knowledge of the attitude adopted towards teachers' associations by managers of national schools. It appears, however, from a newspaper report of a conference of managers held at Armagh on the 13th April, 1899, that a resolution was adopted pledging them not to appoint as principal or assistant teacher a person who was a member of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation as then constituted. Appointments of teachers (except in the case of model schools) are made by local managers under forms of agreement sanctioned by the Commissioners, which require that the duties of the teacher shall be such as are in accordance with the rules of the Commissioners.