§ 21. Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty are still continuing the policy of entering as schoolmaster candidates, Royal Navy, persons other than bona fide schoolmasters, and who can never become such; is he aware that such policy is causing considerable unrest and disaffection among the professional Royal Naval schoolmasters; is he aware that the present regrettable shortage of fully qualified schoolmasters, which has been officially admitted as holding up the education work of the lower deck, can be remedied by the expedient of giving schoolmasters of the Royal Navy at least the full advantages of their rank; and, further, was it the declared intention of their Lordships to abandon the pursuit of such policy?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe Admiralty do not appoint anyone as a naval schoolmaster until he has had a preliminary training adequate, in their opinion, to qualify him for his duties. In the case of candidates who have had little or no previous actual teaching experience, but are otherwise suitable, the preliminary course of training will be subject to such modifications as the Admiralty, in consultation with the Board of Education, may consider advisable. There is a regrettable shortage of schoolmasters throughout the country, which only time can remedy, and which naturally affects the supply of candidates for the Naval Service, but I am not aware that any 420 exceptional measures which these circumstances may render necessary in the interests of the educational work of the Fleet are a cause of dissatisfaction among schoolmasters already serving. Naval schoolmasters formerly entered on the lower deck, but now enter in Warrant rank with the advantages of such rank, and as Warrant rank is not usually attainable until after considerable periods of service, the Schoolmaster Branch cannot be regarded as unfairly treated in comparison with the others. I may add that the rates of pay of the Branch have recently been revised.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONIs it not a fact that, in consequence of the shortage of schoolmasters in the Navy, an Admiralty Order has been issued by which the quality of education and instruction has been reduced?
§ Sir J. CRAIGI should like notice of that, in order to see the Order myself.