§ 73. Mr. TOUCHEasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the announcement in paragraph 9 of Circular 709 is still acting prejudicially to the interests of non-collegiate teachers, notwithstanding the prefatory note to the 1912 Code stating that the Board do not contemplate the alteration of Article 9 (a) (iii.) so as to disqualify for the post of head teacher any teacher who was certificated before 1st August, 1910, on the ground that such teacher had not a college training; and, in order to prevent the risk or misunderstanding and to remove the apprehensions of non-collegiate teachers, will he issue a circular to all education authorities communicating the effect of the prefatory note so as to give the same publicity to the practical withdrawal of paragraph 9 of Circular 709 as was given to the circular itself?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI am not aware that teachers who have not received a college training and who became certificated before the 1st August, 1910, are being prejudiced by the very tentative warning given in the circular referred to. In view of the explicit statements made in this House, of the notice contained in the prefatory note to the Code of last year, and of the further publicity given to the matter by the hon. Member's question and my answer, I see no reason for issuing a circular on the subject.
§ Mr. TOUCHEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that hundreds of well-intentioned men who are members of education committees are under the impression that non-collegiate teachers are not qualified for headships and is not it very desirable to remove that impression?
§ Mr. TREVELYANWe have no indication of that at the Board of Education. As my right hon. Friend pointed out sufficient publicity has been given to this, practically as much publicity as was given to Circular 709.
§ Mr. GOLDSTONEMay I ask the hon. Gentleman to reconsider his decision. Is he aware that in fact I here is considerable misunderstanding in the country which involves injustice to teachers and will he consider the sending out of a circular to the local authorities which will rectify the matter?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI think that my hon. Friend had better give some of that information to the President. We have no indication at present of any real misunderstanding.
§ Mr. TOUCHEDoes the hon. Gentleman not attach importance to the representations of the association of non-collegiate teachers, representing 40,000 teachers, who have passed a strong resolution pointing out that this is to their detriment, and will he state any reason why the Board should not send out a circular as broadcast as the previous one declaring that all certificated teachers or all who were certificated before the 1st of August, 1910, should not be——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put his question on the Paper.