Lincoln High School’s Board Takes Over

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 17

Lincoln High School’s Board Takes Over

The Lincoln High School was unique in New Zealand in that it had been translated from a district high school to an independent secondary school while 90 per cent, of its pupils were still transported by bus to attend, education officials said yesterday. They were speaking at a ceremony where administration was officially transferred from an interim committee of control (comprising representatives of the Canterbury Education Board, the former Lincoln District High Schoo'' Committee, and parents' representatives) to the school's first board of governors, which sets a new scheme ot representation. The Lincoln development could set a pattern, said Mr A. S. Murray, chairman of the interim committee. There were three other country district high schools in the board’s area which mignt seek high school status in the same way. Lincoln was unique in that the high school in a small rural town was serving pupils from a huge area. The Regional Superintendent of Education (Mr T. M Archer) said that, as a former inspector of schools, he had been one ot those who doubted whether a full high school was justified when Lincoln was so close to Christchurch. Recently visiting the new high school, he had been amazed at its development and convinced that it was warranted. Obviously it would now be easier for Lincoln to be managed by its own board of governors than by the Canterbury Education Board, whicn had responsibility for hundreds of schools. ‘Tremendous powers are "ested in boards of governors and they should be used with understanding and responsibility,’ said Mr Archer. “Expert” Describing himself as “an expert in handing over con trol.” the chairman of the Christchurch Post-primary Schools’ Council (Mr W. J. Cartwright) said his council would have transferred con-

trol to eight autonomous boards by the end of this year. There was nothing more satisfying than seeing new schools stand on their own feet. The Lincoln headmaster (Mr C. Harris) spoke of the great assistance received from the Education Department the Education Board, and the interim committee. Mr R. R. Beauchamp, a former member of the board who, with Mesrs C. E. Thompson and A. McNeil, was one of the earliest advocates of this development at Lincold, said he did not think the authorities had yet railised the long distances travelled and the long hours away from home involved for the pupils. “Hostel Needed” "Hostels are the answer,’ Mr Beauchamp said. ‘They are the heart and soul of many of our great schools and in country centres they could be a boon. This need not involve taking pupils away from home for a whole term. They could stay in residence during the week and go home at week-ends. That would also relieve the domestic staff problem.” Mr J. U. Barclay (chairman of the new board) expressed appreciation of the great assistance received. When a full high school was advocated about 12 years ago he had been amazed at the long-range forecasts already made by the Education Board, said Dr. A. E. Henderson. Since then he had again been surprised to find that those forecasts of numbers had only been 1 or 2 per cent, out Building needs had also been estimated well ahead and accurately. This showed the efficiency of the Education Department, Education Board, and the old district hign school committee. Dr. L D. Blair expressed pleasure at the speed of developments. Ninety per cent of the pupils came to schools by bus from as far afield as Little River and the Rakaia river. Personally he thought they were entitled to preferential treatment There should be some sort of clubroom which they could make their home while at schooL