SECONDARY SCHOOLS' FINANCES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15023, 18 July 1914, Page 14

SECONDARY SCHOOLS' FINANCES.

EFFECT OF PROPOSALS OF

EDUCATION BILL

In an interview with a representative of "The Press" yesterday, Mr J. C Adams, chairman of the' Board of Governors of Canterbury College, dealt with the effects on/the finances of the Christchurch Boys , and Girls' High Schools of the proposals contained in the Hon. James Allen's Education Bill.

"It is rather difficult," Mr Adams eaid, "at first glanco and* with only an abstract of the Bill before one, to arrive at anything like a clear idea of what is intended. As regards the new scalo of grants, it will make, practically, no difference, or very little difference, in connexion with, the Christchurch. Boys' High School; in connexion with the Girls' High School, it will make an appreciable difference. The present staffing at the Girls' High School is one teacher more than tno Act requires, and as salaries are to be paid at the rate of £13 10s per pupil, in spite of the increased capitation, it seoms that a distinct loss will be incurred. In schools slightly better, endowed than the Girls' High School is, the whole of the capitation will be, in all probability, swallowed up in sakv ries, and only the small income from endowments will be left for general maintenance. The provisions of the Bill make for an average, increase of salary in those schools where the salaries have not come np to the proposed ecale, and. consequently, the increase in capitation, in some cases, will be altogether absorbed by. the now scale of 6alaries. Of course, everyone must be pleased that earnest teachers should have the fullest recognition of their value. If, however, that recognition means*a loss, the question arises: How is that loss to be met? ,.

Referring to tho proposed Council of Education, Mr Adams said that if the Council was to deal with secondary schools, as seemed to be indicated by the inclusion in its personnel of secondary 6chool teachers, then representatives of tho bodies controlling secondary schools should have a place on the Council. If* the Council was not intended to deal with secondary schools, then tho method of selection was a reasonable ono. Ho expressed approval of the proposals regarding the inspectorate, and eaid that it would give a chaneo to tho inspectors to bring into line their ideas as regards the standard to which the pupils should attain, and thus do away with tho marked difference in the standard in different districts. Regarding the now scale of salaries for primary school teachers and assistants, Mr Adams said that everybody was pleased to see that these salaries wero to be increased, and that by the diminution of the grades it seemed probable that teachers would be able to reach a reasonable salary at an earlier period of their career than was possible before.