HC Deb 11 June 1913 vol 53 cc1612-3
37. Mr. TOUCHE

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he intends to take any further steps to remove the impression, created amongst education authorities by paragraph 9 of Circular 709, that in future only those teachers who have had a college course should be appointed to headships?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Pease)

No evidence has up to the present been laid before me which would justify the belief that local education authorities are under any misapprehension as to the eligibility of all teachers certificated before the 1st August, 1910, to be head teachers of public elementary schools, whether they had received a college training or not. They are, as I have repeatedly said, eligible for such posts and will continue to be eligible, and I believe many of them are well qualified by both attainment and experience to fill such posts, but I should not be justified in telling local education authoriteis that they should not take college training into account in selecting individual teachers for promotion.

Mr. TOUCHE

Why will not the right hon. Gentleman give the same publicity to the withdrawal as he has given to the circular? Is he aware that great misapprehension exists among the teachers?

Mr. PEASE

I have had no evidence of any misapprehension such as the hon. Member has more than once alluded to. But, at any rate, if there be any misapprehension, I am quite sure this question and answer will prove satisfactory.

38. Mr. TOUCHE

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, as there is now adequate college accommodation, the Board of Education will abolish the acting teachers' examination and, when so doing, declare that all then holding the certificate are eligible for the position of head teacher?

Mr. PEASE

In view of the great difficulty of finding recruits for the teaching profession it is impossible for me to close this avenue to the grade of certificated teachers.

Mr. TOUCHE

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman see his way to make the declaration referred to in the question?

Mr. PEASE

Perhaps the hon. Member will put a question on the Paper.