§ Mr. KELLAWAYasked if about the year 1890 the Education Department, on the suggestion of the National Union of Teachers, put a stop to the practice of issuing secret circulars on matters affecting the teachers as a body; if since the appointment of the present Permanent Secretary the Board has reverted to the old practice; and, if so, having regard to the public indignation aroused by the issue of the Holmes circular, he will give instructions to the Permanent Secretary to return to the practice which prevailed under his predecessor, so that every circular affecting the teachers as a body shall be open to those whom it affects?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. RUNCIMAN)No, Sir, I cannot find that any such changes of practice as are described in the question ever took place. A document called Instructions to Inspectors was issued at least as early as 1882, and was published annually until 1902. I find that at the same time confidential memoranda and circulars on various matters were sent out to the Department's inspectors whenever they were considered necessary, both before 1890, and between 1890 and 1902, as they have been from 1903 until now. In 1905 practically the whole of the Revised Instructions of 1902 was incorporated, with much additional matter, in the prefatory memorandum to the code, and in the volume called Suggestions for the Consideration of Teachers, both of which were then published, for the first time, to replace those Instructions as well as for other purposes. There have always been confidential circulars addressed to the inspectors of the Department and of the Board under every regime, but no policy affecting the teachers as a body is adopted by the Board, nor any instructions issued to inspectors thereon without being publicly stated and explained by circular or otherwise.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYDo I understand that the document of 1882 was issued without the knowledge of the teachers?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe fact of the issue of the document must have been known to the teachers, because the Department published it as a Parliamentary Paper. The instructions were published for the consideration of the teachers as well as the inspectors. Those instructions published for the guidance of teachers, as well as inspectors, were published as a Parliamentary Paper.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYWould there have been any objection to a similar practice to that adopted with regard to the first Circular being adopted in regard to the notorious Holmes' Circular?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWhat is called the "notorious Holmes Circular" did not contain any instructions.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me how often these secret circulars are issued by the Education Department?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not know what the hon. Member means by "secret circulars." Private instructions are given to the inspectors and other officers of the Board from day to day, and must continue.
§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked whether a circular or memorandum had been issued to inspectors of the Board dealing with the question of conferences with groups or associations of teachers in elementary schools; and whether inspectors had been discouraged by the Board from participating in such conferences?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir. The Board consider that it is most useful for inspectors to take part in conferences with the teachers in their districts, provided that their so doing does not infringe the general rule, to which I attach great importance, discouraging the making of public speeches by such officers.