HC Deb 27 March 1906 vol 154 cc1071-3
* MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he will inquire of the Rotherham Local Education Committee if they resolved on February 7th to dismiss Miss Daisy Turner for having refused to remove her engagement ring at the bidding of her mistress, Miss Hodge, and that, on discovering that their action was illegal, they, on February 21st, decided on the alternative course of cancelling her engagement as a pupil teacher, and offered her £5; and, if so, whether he regards the explanation offered to him in the recent explanations of the council correct and satisfactory; and whether he has conveyed to the council his disapproval of their treatment of Miss Turner.

MR. BIRRELL

The regulations of the Board require that all pupil teachers should be engaged under a proper agreement, but I have no power to prevent a local authority from terminating any agreement under conditions specified in the agreement itself. I do not think, therefore, that I can properly interfere in this case, but I quite agree with the hon. Member that the action of the local authority appears to have been arbitrary and most unwise.

* MR PATRICK O'BRIEN

I beg further to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the Rotherham Council of Education terminated the engagement of Miss Turner as a pupil teacher, without her consent, and six months before the completion of her indenture, for no other fault, actual or alleged, than having refused to remove her engagement ring, Miss Turner is now prevented from pursuing the profession of a teacher, her apprenticeship not being completed; whether the Pupil Teachers' Centre in Rotherham is supported, in whole or in part, by State funds; and, if so, whether he will interfere to prevent Miss Turner being deprived of her engagement, actual and prospective, or secure that she shall be adequately compensated for the loss of her means of living.

MR. BIRRELL

It will still be open for Miss Turner to follow the profession of an elementary teacher, if she passes one of the examinations which will qualify her for recognition as a teacher under the Code. The Pupil Teachers' Centre at Rotherham is in receipt of grants from the Imperial Exchequer. As I have already stated, I have no power to interfere to prevent the cancelling of Miss Turner's agreement, or to obtain for her further compensation, beyond the maximum compensation provided for in that agreement. The only ultimate power possessed by the Board of Education over the local authority in cases of this sort would be the extreme measure of withdrawing the Grants in respect of the Centre on the ground that the action complained of had rendered the Pupil Teachers' Centre educationally inefficient.

* MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is not accountable for the efficiency of the teachers who receive payment from the State, and on that ground is he not entitled to intervene in the matter, and to see that this lady is not interfered with until she gets through her examination?

MR. BIRRELL

I am afraid I cannot go so far as that. I may say that the teaching staff is efficient, and I can only trust that they give efficient teaching to the pupils.

* MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

The right hon. Gentleman did not say if he was aware that this lady was dismissed, although the authorities at Rotherham denied that they had dismissed her.

MR. BIRRELL

It is undoubtedly the fact that the agreement was terminated by payment of a £5 note, which was one of the conditions for determining the engagement, and therefore her connection with the Centre has terminated, but she can continue her education as a teacher in the way I have referred to in the Answer.

* MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Is it not the fact that the Rotherham authority first dismissed her, and then, finding that their action was illegal, took the other method of dismissing her?

MR. BIRRELL

I believe that is so.

* MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

On that point, then, they stated what was absolutely untrue when they said they did not dismiss the girl. Will the right hon. Gentleman take notice of that fact?

MR. BIRRELL

The hon. Member seems to think I possess much greater control than I have actually over local authorities. This House is in favour of local popular control, but I am afraid that my powers of interference with local authorities, even when they act arbitrarily and irregularly, are very limited.

* MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I hope the Rotherham authority will be ashamed of themselves, as everybody who acts like this ought to be.