HC Deb 05 July 1962 vol 662 cc677-8
17. Mr. Marsh

asked the Minister of Education if he will issue a circular to all education authorities asking them to refrain from retaining in their employment teachers whose publicly expressed views make it clear that they regard the children of some races and religion as inferior to others.

Sir D. Eccles

No, Sir. Authorities are aware that it rests primarily with them to decide whether there are grounds for terminating a teacher's engagement. The House will be aware that the Coventry Authority yesterday decided to suspend Mr. Jordan.

Mr. Marsh

Is the right hon. Gentleman seriously suggesting that Fascism in British schools is not a matter for this House or for his Ministry? Is he not aware that this gentleman is engaged under the Ministry of Education in teaching civics to children? Would he not agree that one of the most important principles of civics is that an attack on Jews and coloured people is an attack on civilised people?

Sir D. Eccles

I sympathise with the political views the hon. Member has expressed in this matter. But a teacher's position depends on whether his politics are conducted in the school or not. I am the final court of appeal. If this case comes to me, I shall consider it with great care.

Mr. Hocking

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the extreme anxiety of parents in Coventry? Will he also tell us how checks are made from time to time to see that extreme and obnoxious views are not circulated in the classroom?

Sir D. Eccles

It is the business of the head teacher to know what is happening in his school, and it is because of that, I imagine, that the Coventry authority has acted.

Mr. Wiley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that even in a democracy one can stretch tolerance so far as to endanger democracy itself? Will he therefore make it abundantly clear that these are abhorrent views for anyone in the teaching profession to express?

Sir D. Eccles

I must make it clear that my authority in regard to teachers is concerned with what they do inside school. If an employing authority sees fit to suspend a teacher, and the teacher anneals to me, I must decide the case on its merits.

Mr. Crossman

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, while everybody in Coventry abhors the views expressed, some of us have a great respect for the local education authority, which is determined, at all costs, not to act unless it has overwhelming proof against a teacher? Is he further aware that this teacher was carefully watched year after year and that no evidence, up till recently, was adduced against him? We should bear in mind that this is a problem not only of abhorrence of a doctrine but of respect for an education authority which believes in the freedom of a teacher.

Sir D. Eccles

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his helpful intervention.