§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the word altered in line 15 of the second page of the circular to inspectors of national schools, numbered B.O., 30.5.11, and signed by Messrs. Lemass and Dilworth, ought not to be lowered; and whether he will consider the advisibality of giving inspectors the right to raise the merit mark of a school if they consider it worthy of being raised?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the word altered in the circular is correct. The intention of the Commissioners is that in cases where the inspector, if of lower rank than that of senior inspector, is of opinion that the mark assigned to the school should be different from that given in the previous year, he should not make any change without consulting the senior inspector. The object of the rule is to secure greater accuracy in the estimating of the value of the work done in the schools.