§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will say why the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have recommended no increase of salary to assistant teachers in large schools; if it is their opinion that no school with a higher average than 35 pupils can be efficiently conducted by a single teacher, the principal teacher, while in large schools the second and every succeeding assistant is appointed only when there is an additional average of 45 pupils for each, which necessarily means that the great bulk of the training and teaching of the pupils in such schools must depend on the assistants; and will he explain why the Commissioners have recommended no special consideration for the senior assistant teacher in large schools, if on him, in the absence of the principal, whether for short or long periods, the duties of principal devolve without additional remuneration?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that their action in regard to their recommendations involves complex educational considerations which it would not be possible to set forth within the limits of an answer to a question. In any case the Commissioners do not think it would be in the public interest to enter into an explanation of their reasons for making or not making recommendations in favour of any class of national teachers.