§ Mr. McNEILLasked the Secretary of of State for War whether some twenty Army schoolmasters were recently employed in giving Artillery instruction to commissioned officers and in training picked Artillery men in the use of scientific instruments; and whether, although their instruction was highly efficient and greatly appreciated by the officers and men, these schoolmasters have been withdrawn from this work and have returned to the duty of giving ordinary school teaching to enlisted boys and infants of both sexes?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes,, Sir; a certain number of Army schoolmasters have been specially employed in teaching map reading, and it is the case that it has been found possible to release a certain number who were so employed for other duty.
§ Mr. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the only young soldiers now being taught by Army schoolmasters are enlisted boys between fourteen and seventeen years of age, whose syllabus of subjects is in no sense of a specially military character, but is the ordinary pre-war syllabus of general education, and whose instruction is limited to two hours a day and, in the case of boys who have passed for the second certificate, to five hours a week; whether the War Office order that certificates of education for promotion shall be in abeyance during the War has eliminated from the duties of Army schoolmasters the only element of immediate military value; whether he is aware that the Army schoolmasters spend four and a half hours a day giving elementary teaching to infants of both sexes who could be as efficiently taught in local elementary schools; whether 50 per cent. of the 400 enlisted boys who entered at the last examination for the first certificate failed; whether, seeing that the first certificate is mainly intended in time of peace for non-commissioned officers with a view to promotion, he will suspend it during the War; and whether, with a view to making the best use of the available man-power of the nation, he will discontinue the employ- 514W ment of 330 Army schoolmasters and 20 inspectors, many of whom are well qualified for commissions, in giving elementary education to children of tender age?
§ Mr. FORSTERIn regard to the first part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that enlisted boys are not the only soldiers taught by Army schoolmasters, as many others attend school. I do not agree with the suggestion in the second part, as the principal duty of an Army schoolmaster is to improve the education of soldiers with a view to the more efficient performance of their duties. No Army schoolmasters teach "infants" under eight; in a few cases "elder" children are taught, but these attend for five hours daily five days a week. In regard to the fourth part of the question, the percentage is not so high as 50. In peace time the first-class certificate is not intended primarily for non-commissioned officers for purposes of promotion, but as a test of general education; it is much sought after with a view to employment after discharge. In regard to the sixth part of the question, the answer is in the negative. I do not agree with my hon. Friend's description of the present employment of these men.