§ 24. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that on 16th October, 1922, the county borough of West Ham Education Committee interviewed a number of candidates for appointment as an instructor of handicraft, and selected Mr. W. H. Rose, who at that time was serving as a teacher of handicraft at the Haslingden secondary school, Lancashire; that Mr. Rose possesses the first-class teachers' certificate of the City and Guilds of London Institute, obtained in 1914, and other qualifications; that the committee decided to fix his salary at £337 10s. per annum, with an annual increment of £12 10s., to a maximum of £425; that a letter was sent to the Board of Education giving particulars of Mr. Rose's services, and stating that the committee proposed paying him the salary as stated; that on the 1st December the Board of Education notified that Mr. Rose had not been recognised as a teacher of handicraft, and on 8th December another letter was sent to the Board giving all the particulars asked for; that Mr. Rose resigned his position on the staff of the Haslingden secondary
§ figures are not precisely comparable, because the figures for 1922 are those returned by local education authorities for teachers serving in public elementary schools, excluding special schools and schools recognised under Section 15 of the Education Act of 1902, but including practical instruction centres, whereas the figures for 1920 and 1921 exclude practical instruction centres. Moreover, the figures for 1922 have not yet been corrected in the light of the later Returns, and, therefore, must be taken with reserve.
§ The figures supplied are as follow:
§ school and commenced duty in West Ham on 8th January, 1923; that on 21st February a letter was sent by the Board of Education stating that they were not prepared to recognise Mr. Rose as a teacher of handicraft under the code of regulations for public elementary schools from the date of his appointment as a full-time teacher of handicraft to children in public elementary schools, which was the 8th January, 1923; and that, by the Board's action of not allowing that service to count, the West Ham education authority will lose grant on the difference between £120; if he can state whether he will be willing to consent to the recognition of the previous services of Mr. Rose in technical and secondary schools in calculating his correct position on the salary scale; and if he will take action in the matter?
Mr. WOODI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member of Stratford (Mr. Groves) on the 7th March.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes the reply given to my hon. Friend apply to exactly the same case?
Mr. WOODYes, it applies to the case of Mr. Rose, and I think that, if my hon. Friend will look at it, he will see that it meets his case. If not, I hope he will perhaps take the opportunity of consulting me personally about it
§ Mr. THORNEWill the right hon. Gentleman give us any reason why he disallowed the services of this particular man from 1st December to 8th January?