§ 15. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has taken into consideration the existing situation in the teaching profession consequent upon the increasing proportion of women to men teachers; whether he is aware that in public elementary schools in England and Wales 75 per cent. of the teachers are women; that great difficulty is now experienced in maintaining an adequate supply of men teachers, and that there are now 5,461 fewer male teachers in elementary schools than in 1914; and whether, with the object of providing men teachers for the male youth of the country, he is prepared to examine the position, with a view to the encouragement of more men entering the teaching profession?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI am aware that the proportion of women teachers to men teachers has slightly increased since 1914, and that the general position is as stated by the hon. Member; though, according to the information in my possession, the decrease in the number of male teachers in public elementary schools is considerably less than as stated by him. The decrease is mainly in the grade of untercertificated teachers, while in the grade of certificated teachers the decrease is only 560. I may say, however, that in the year ended the 30th June, 1924, there was an increase of 360 in the number of male certificated teachers employed. I am, of course, well aware of the importance of maintaining an adequate supply of male teachers, and I hope that upon this, as upon all other matters connected with the supply and training of teachers, I shall receive some useful guidance from the Departmental Committee.
§ Mr. HANNONIs it not a fact that local education authorities are finding great difficulty in getting highly qualified male teachers in their schools?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThe hon. Member knows that there have been this year, until recently at any rate, a certain number of trained certificated teachers out of employment. There is no great lack at this moment.
§ Mr. HANNONIs it not most important from the point of view of training the character of our young boys that there should be as many highly qualified male teachers as possible in our schools?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI quite agree.