§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state why, on the introduction of the grading system, national teachers with no un-favourable record were not placed in grades corresponding to their classification at that time; whether in schools where teachers after years of hard study succeeded in obtaining first division of first class, and where proficiency is recorded as good on every occasion, even very good on some occasions, the principal teacher has been placed and kept in the lower grade while assistants in the same school have been awarded increments on every occasion where they became due; whether, in such cases, the former classification does in any way aid in obtaining the corresponding grade; and whether the Commissioners can consider these matters with a view to the removal of what is an injustice to this hard-working body of teachers.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education have furnished me with the following statement in reply to this Question. When the system of payments of teachers by consolidated salaries was introduced in 1900, each teacher was, as a rule, awarded an initial income equal at least to his 172 average income from all State sources for the preceding three years. Cases in which this method of fixing initial income seemed to operate inequitably were specially considered by the Board. There were three grades of income recognised, namely, first, second, and third; and in the first grade there were two divisions. The teachers took rank in the grades in accordance with their initial incomes fixed in the method already indicated. In a large proportion of cases the grades of the teachers were found to correspond to their classification under the old rules, but this was not so in all cases, for many teachers of the first class (old regulations) had very small incomes, seeing that they were in charge of small schools, while a large number of teachers of the third and second classes had very large incomes. It is obvious, therefore, that to have placed all teachers in 1900 in grades corresponding to their classes would have been productive of grave injustice in numerous instances. Moreover, there was no real connection between classification and gradation, class salaries and grade salaries being entirely different. Promotion of teachers depends on a variety of circumstances, such as training, position in school, ability and general attainments, good service, seniority, average attendance at the school, etc., and if teachers of the first division of first class (old regulations) have not obtained promotion, some essential condition has not been complied with. But the Commissioners are always prepared to investigate any case of alleged hardship that may be brought under their notice, either in connection with refusal of promotion or refusal of increment. The promotion of principals and the award of increments to assistants are independent operations and may have no relation one to the other. No general Answer can be given to this part of the Question. High classification under the old rules is an element for consideration in connection with promotion. The Commissioners will consider any case of alleged grievance which may be submitted to them.