Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in 1905 the Aughtercloney national school, county Antrim, was not required and removed from the Board's list; that Protestants had largely provided and attended the school; that in 1905 a continuing trustee, a Roman Catholic layman, was alone officially connected with it and considered it unnecessary; whether he is aware that a secretary notified him that certain Roman Catholic clergymen had been appointed co-trustees; that he protested and claimed his legal right, and nominated two suitable lay trustees; that, after months and reminders, they were not approved; that he sought in vain the reason, and nominated two other laymen, and received no reply; whether he is aware that a deed was sent down stating that he assigned the ground and premises to three Roman Catholic clergymen; that the trustee refused to sign and described the statement as lies; that he had repeatedly informed the secretaries that he would not appoint these clergymen; whether he is aware that another deed was sent down, excluding him and stating that he had neglected to appoint trustees; and will he explain why this course was adopted?
The HON. MEMBER furtherasked the Chief Secretary—
(1) Whether in 1905 an inspector of national schools claimed an appeal to the Board of National Education before inviting signatures to a second deed of Aughtereloney national school; that he was summoned by telegram to Dublin; that the chief inspector reprimanded him, inter alia, for not having withheld from the Board information that a school adjoining Aughtercloney was becoming vacant, and stated that he had no right to suggest or interfere; that he was informed that if he did not withdraw his letters he would be dismissed; that the inspector begged an appeal and the chief inspector refused it; that he was assured that the Board was aware of every step and directed to write withdrawing, and wrote in words suggested; that four days later he was severely reprimanded for having asked 2058W that a specific question be submitted to the Board, and informed that he must be prepared to resign his position and that his letters could not be withdrawn; that he explained that he had erroneously interpreted the acceptance of withdrawing letter as implying withdrawal, and Rule 96 (c), securing an appeal for teachers, as applicable also to senior inspectors; and, seeing that the inspector was immediately ordered to transfer to a much smaller station, will he say why this course was adopted?
(2)Whether, in 1905, St. Trea's boys' and girls' National schools, county Londonderry, adjoined and were under the same Roman Catholic clerical management; that the average attendance at the boys' school was twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven respectively, for the years 1902, 1904, 1905; that the principal of the boys' school retired on 31st March, 1905; and that the schools thus fell under Rule 186; will he state what has been the total State aid to the boys' school since 1st April, 1905; and whether he will use his influence to have the surcharge on the re sponsible official reserved for a fund for the heating and cleaning of national schools?
(3)Whether on 6th November, 1908, he was aware that it was ascertained that the secretaries to the Board of National Education had omitted to supply a corporal punishment book to a model school, and that in consequence the annual increment of a senior inspector was with-held; if so, whether he is aware that, in accordance with the Order in Council of November, 1898, it was withheld from 26th November, 1908, the date of becoming due, and that the secretaries deferred asking the inspector for an explanation till thirty-one days after the offence was discovered and eleven days after the increment had been withheld for that offence; whether he is aware that, after an explanation was received, more than eleven weeks elapsed before the Board was consulted as to granting the increment; will he state why this course was adopted; and whether the Board was pleased to state that this inspector had served with diligence and fidelity to the satisfaction of the head of the Department?
(4) Whether in March, 1905, an inspector of national schools notified the secretaries to the Board of National Education that the principal of St. Trea's Boys' School, 2059W county Londonderry, was about to retire, and subsequently informed them that the manager had applied for agreement forms for an incoming teacher and asked instructions; whether any reply was sent to either of these letters; whether agreement forms were supplied to the manager, contrary to custom, by some person in the Education Office; whether he is aware that an inspector received certain instructions as to the St. Trea's Schools in December, 1905, and pointed out that they were at variance with the Board's rules and begged detailed directions; and, seeing that he was informed that a full reply would be sent in due course, whether he will say if that reply has since been sent; and, if not, why this course was adopted?
(5) Whether corporal punishment books were issued to ordinary national schools in June 1905; whether they were received at that time by any of the fifteen model school departments of the Ballymena and Omagh circuits or by any model schools; whether he is aware that many model schools received them only years after or not at all; whether any intimation or suggestion was given to inspectors that the omission of model schools was otherwise than intentional; and whether any instructions that such books were required in model schools, or any intimation that any such books had been issued to model or any schools, was given to inspectors prior to 6th November, 1908, if at all?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education, to whom these questions have been referred, point out that they relate to minute details of official procedure in connection with the work of an inspector who retired nearly a year ago from the public service owing to nervous breakdown and other ailments. The Commissioners do not consider that it would he in the public interest to occupy the time of their staff in preparing reports on these questions which can serve no useful purpose.