HC Deb 31 March 1914 vol 60 cc1005-6
32. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

asked whether the janitor and inspector at Moffat is a retired soldier whose services have given complete satisfaction to the school board; and whether the Education Department insisted upon appointing a physical instructress in his place, and as the school board objected they cut off a portion of the Grant?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

In 1911 the school board of Moffat appointed an ex-driver of the Royal Artillery to the combined post of janitor, attendance officer and "drill instructor" in their higher-grade school. For the former two posts he is probably quite competent, but, as was pointed out to the Board at the time of his appointment, he has no recognised qualification for taking charge of the physical exercise instruction of a higher-grade school which is something quite different in purpose and method from military drill. At a subsequent visit by the chief inspector of physical training (October, 1912) his work was reported on as being unintelligent and ineffective, and a reduction of the Grant was accordingly made in terms of Article 144 of the Code. The advisability of appointing a woman teacher for the older girls has been repeatedly brought to the notice of the Board, and a temporary appointment of this nature has now been made.