HC Deb 28 March 1912 vol 36 c587
Mr. T. M. HEALY

asked whether Rule 86 (a) of the Commissioners of National Education (Ireland) for the years 1907–8 provided that in a mixed school under a master, when the average attendance is at least fifty, an assistant mistress should be appointed unless a junior mistress is already recognised in the school; whether it has been repealed or abrogated as regards those who took service in or before 1907–8; under what rule can such junior assistant mistresses be superseded when an average attendance of fifty has been attained; and do such junior assistant mistresses now run the risk of dismissal if they are succussful in inducing the children to attend school in sufficient numbers?

Mr. BIRRELL

The form of the rule referred to was as stated for the years 1907–8. The rule has been since changed mainly in the interests of the pupils, and now extends to schools under mistresses, the requirement to appoint a fully qualified assistant when the average attendance reaches fifty. The cases of junior assistant mistresses appointed in or before 1907–8 come under the operation of the rule as it now stands.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it fair to this body of teachers that a new rule should be introduced damnifying them in the position which they held under another rule!

Mr. BIRRELL

Of course I do not know whether it is fair or not, but we have made the utmost provision to secure that any junior assistant teacher should have an opportunity of becoming fully qualified in order to get rid of any personal disadvantage which may arise under the operation of the rule. The hon. and learned Gentleman is quite right. A junior assistant mistress now does run the risk of dismissal if she is successful in raising the school above fifty. That works her own destruction. I quite agree with that, and I will not lose sight of it. At the same time an assistant mistress who has that skill would, under the rule, have very little difficulty in becoming a duly qualified teacher.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman say, in order to remove the alarm of the teachers, that he will bear the matter in mind?

Mr. BIRRELL

I certainly will.