from becoming MPs.

The Dellwood Primary School head teacher was speaking after revealing he had been tapped by the Opposition Progressive Labour Party to run as a candidate for the House of Assembly -- probably in one of the Warwick constituencies.

But teachers and other public officials who are elected MPs are forced to give up their jobs under the current law.

Mr. Butler, however, said: "I am going to write to the Human Rights Commission to see if my human rights have been violated.'' Mr. Butler is on a 12-strong shortlist of would-be PLP MPs. If selected he could campaign for a seat -- but if won he would have to choose between his teaching career and a part-time post as an MP.

He admitted: "Every day I am flipping backwards and forwards. I would be leaving teaching at the top of my career and I want to do additional things in education.'' And he added he wanted to see his pupils through a change in building brought about by the recent educational reforms.

He said: "I really need to see this school move to its new location to ensure the welfare of the children under my care.'' Mr. Butler added: "My time is running out all around -- they have to decide very soon, but I have a very young family. I love my job and anyone getting out of education now would find it very difficult to get back in again.'' He said that the current system of part-time MPs favoured well-off professionals like lawyers, doctors and businessmen.

And he added: "We are a sophisticated economy with a part-time shop going on.

"That needs to be examined and I will constantly challenge it, whether I am in or out of Government.'' Mr. Butler said full-time MPs could be paid for by reducing the size of the House of Assembly -- or adopting rules like Jamaica, where he said MPs could opt for a full- or a part-time role. In the latter, they retain their jobs.

He added that he expected to be forced into a decision within the next two weeks.