There was a somewhat acrimonious discussion in the House of
Commons on Tuesday upon a circular issued from the Education Office last year. The subject was brought up during the Report stage of the Vote on Account by Mr. Hoare. The circular was issued on January 6th, 1910, to the district inspectors, and was signed by Mr. Holmes, who was then Chief Inspector of Elementary Schools. Its substance was to the effect that the local authorities were ill-advised in appointing ex-elementary teachers to the higher educational posts, and that it was desirable that the local inspectors should be men educated at Oxford or Cambridge. Mr. Runciman replied with unnecessary warmth that the document was marked " strictly confidential," and that Mr. Hoare was a receiver of stolen property. He went on to say that the circular was sent out unofficially by Mr. Holmes, without the knowledge of the Poard, and was in fact entirely contrary to the Board's views on the question. In the debate that followed, members of all parties seemed to agree in condemning not only the circular, but also Mr. Runciman's attitude towards Mr. Hoare. The most remarkable fact revealed seems to us, however, to be the complete ignorance of the President of the Board of Educa- tion as to the contents of an extremely important circular issued from his own office.
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