§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether there are any rules or regulations preventing teachers in England and Wales from taking part in the ordinary duties of citizens; and whether, having regard to the existence of regulations by which teachers in Ireland are restricted, under the penalty of withdrawal of salary, from the same liberty as teachers in England and Wales enjoy, he can say whether he considers the drafting of any regulations necessary to secure uniformity.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (MR. BIRRELL,) Bristol, N.I am not aware what is included by the hon. Member in "the ordinary duties of citizens." The teachers in England and Wales may be subject to various rules imposed by their employers (the Local Education Authorities), of which I have no cognisance; but so far as the Board of Education are concerned the restrictions implied in Section 17 (4) of the Education Act, 1902, and in Sections (c) and (d) of Article 11 and (c) of Article 51 of the Code, are, I think, the principal limitations, as regards teachers in Public Elementary Schools in England and Wales, upon what the hon. Member might perhaps consider to be so included. I am not anxious to secure rigid uniformity in any portion of our national education.