PAPANUI H.S. BOARD

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30147, 3 June 1963, Page 13

PAPANUI H.S. BOARD

Np Change In Constitution

A move to alter the constitution of the board of governors of Papanui High School was defeated at a meeting of the board, A written notice of motion by Mrs C. C Holland sought to reduce the representation of local employers’ and employees' associations on the board from two members to one. and to increase the representation of the former pupils and the parents of pupils. Mr R H. Truscott, representing tlie Canterbury Manufacturers' Aasxnataon. said that his organisation deeply resented the idea of a change to the board's constitution. The wider scope provided by representatives of industry on the board could prove of greater advantage than the narrower constitution proposed, he said Mr O C Mitchell. representing rhe Canterbury Master Builders’ Association. said that the proposal could mean the loss of membership of the Technical Education Association, the loss of the annual £ 100 grant of the city council, and of the good will of the employers’ associations a* well as other advantages “I represent the second largest industry in the country. and I would say that the most outstanding man this board has had has come from our industry,” he said “I am referring tn the late Mr J. B. Johns, whose wish it was that. I should take hi? place when he resigned through ill health.

“This board of governors, as it is constituted at present. has carried on successfully and to the credit of Papanui H ; gh School and its esteem in the community for more than a quarter of a cen-tu-y. Why change it now?” The original proposals had been discussed in a private meeting, and some questions needed to be answered, said Mr J Palmer He asked whether there had been any clash of ini ores’s caused by the present constitution of the board, or complaints of its work

Although the Paipamui board was in a somewhat different category to other high school boards (having a technical side which had prompted the enrolment of employers' and employees’ representatives) the proposed changes would not be bringing it into line with other boards. There was no uniformity in any of the boards, said Mr Palmer

“If there is any dissatisfaction. then I would suggest that every board should comprise parents and old pupils' representatives only,” he said.

‘lf the primary schools can be administered by householders. then I would claim that high school boards could be represented in the same way.”

Mrs Holland said that the Past Pupils’ Assocation had asked for increased representation tn 1950. It was natural for anyone with a family contact to have more concern than outside interests over the running of the school, she said

"The interest of old pupils can be almost fanatical, when they are concerned with the running of their old school." said Mrs Holland “It sometimes becomes merely a matter of duty for representatives of outside bodies " Mr Truscott said that parents already had three representatives on the board and that number should be adequate. Employers received the high school graduates into employment and should be just as interested in their education as their parents

The motion was lest by five votes to four.