Uneven School Rolls Debated

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31360, 4 May 1967, Page 14

Uneven School Rolls Debated

The fate of high schools which may not get “their share” of pupils with a full range of abilities and adequate sixth forms was discussed by the newly-elected Christchurch Secondary Schools’ Council on Tuesday. Discussion was deferred pending opinions from principals and schools.

Mr T. R. Richards, headmaster of the Hagley High School, wrote that as publicity had been given to a report to his board, he wished the council to know his two major concerns were that some schools could grow at the expense of others and that aggregation of higher ability could cause problems. The retiring chairman (Mr W. J. Cartwright) said there was a system, agreed to by all principals, by which pupils applied.for the school of their first choice, and then made a second round of applications to schools with vacancies if they failed in their first application. Mr H. R. Peers (Hagley) said a more equitable system was needed. Present problems would be aggravated if some schools were allowed to grow to rolls of 1400 or more. Such big schools must affect the others, he said. This would add to the difficulties already caused by some schools attracting more applications than they could take and selecting the best pupils, said Mr Peers. There would then be unevenness in calibre as well as numbers. The other schools would have a larger proportion of less able pupils. Sixth forms would become even less proportionate to total rolls. Mr Cartwright said school principals were now considering these questions in their talks on enrolment policy.

Professor G. Jobbems (Avonside Girls’ High School) said the council should hear principals’ conclusions before going further. Professor H. R. Gray (Riccarton) said one view was that if Hagley was made a single-sex school its total roll and sixth forms would be increased. Professor Jobbems said Hagley was ideally sited to be a central school for pupils of superior ability, a dream of many educators. Mrs C. H. Perkins (Christchurch Girls’ High School) said boards, not principals alone, must determine enrolment policy. They must also decide whether it was desirable that all schools be “the same.” “Every high school wants a decent sixth form so as to qualify for a well-balanced staff and range of subjects,” said Mr A. F. Foley (Bumside). “There is no reason why a school should not have excellence without large numbers,” said Professor T. E. Carter (Linwood). Mr D. W. Rutherford (Shirley Boys’ High School) said the right of parents to apply v

to the school of their choice for their children must always be protected. Schools of different types and different specialties were approved by many. The council discussed in private meeting a progress report by its special committee investigating the effects of some schools being allowed to grow to rolls of 1400 or more. This was said to impinge on enrolment policy.