§ DR. MASSIE (Wiltshire, Cricklade)To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that one of the schools proposed to be used in the scheme for training pupil teachers in Oxford is held in a private house and was opened only a few months ago, and that the head-mistress holds an elementary 1337 school teacher's certificate only; that the use of this school will introduce, for the first time in Oxford, sectarian controversy into the training of pupil teachers, the school being an institution of an extreme sectarian type, objected to by a large class of ratepayers; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) As I stated on 30th July in reply to a Question on this subject, the Board of Education have not recognised any particular schools for the purposes referred to, but are awaiting special Reports by their inspectors, and other information, before any decision is arrived at. I will see that the various matters referred to by the hon. Member are borne in mind, and that no scheme is sanctioned which will recognise inefficient provision or needlessly arouse controversy.