Teachers as Politicians An interesting point arose at the Labour
Party Con- ference last week concerning the action of schools or universities in forbidding members of their staffs to become Parliamentary or • municipal candidates. Two eases were mentioned, one of a master at Clifton College who was a candidate at municipal' elections, another; of a Parliamentary candidate who applied for a post at Bristol University. is . clearly impossible to judge either of these cases without full knowledge of all the facts. In some circumstances. it might be incom, patible with professional work that members, of a staff should be giving much time to.Parliamentary or municipal tasks. On the other hand, it is highly desirable that the teaching profession should be represented on public bodies ; • and, if they are represented, there should be no distinction on the part of employers between one party and another. Nor would it be anything but an advantage to schools and universities. that some of their teachers. should: be. so much in 'touch with practical life as to be capable of taking sonic active share in politics. •
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