In annual conference at Brighton on Monday, the National Union
of Teachers expressed general dissatis- faction with the Board of Education, and made the same particular objections as were raised on Thursday, March 29th, in the House of Commons. In general, the Board showed a tendency to retard the progress of education. In the case of children moving upwards from elemen- tary schools, the former minimum of 25 per cent. "free places" had been made a maximum, thus denying the advantages of more advanced education to many who were fully qualified mentally to profit by it. Certainly the education of a secondary school is little enough to deny anybody. Of course, what the N.U.T. is particularly bitter about is the reintroduction of " unqualified " teachers, for which there is no need, we are told, save on the grounds of economy. This may or may not be a bad move. Many a " qualified " teacher is less fitted for teaching children than almost anybody one amid name offhand. And vice veraa. For teaching remains an art, not a science, and personality means more here than reason. There are, however, obvious dangers in a free-for-all system of choice. At any rate, in this respect, cheapness should be no criterion of desirability. In such matters, nothing can be too good for the nation's children.
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