Mills policy left to headmaster

Press, 13 June 1986, Page 4

Mills policy left to headmaster

The Christ’s College board of governors has reaffirmed its policy of leaving staff appointments to the headmaster.

The policy' attracted criticism this week because of the decision of the headmaster, Dr Max Rosser, to reappoint the rebel rugby player, John Mills, to his job as teacher of economics and accounting at the school.

Mr Mills resigned on April 30 to join the Cavaliers’ tour of South Africa and was reappointed last week after the vacancy was advertised throughout New Zealand. At the time, Dr Rosser defended the decision, saying Mr Mills was the best man for the job of a number of applicants. The board discussed the matter at its bimonthly

meeting yesterday, but will make no comment beyond a statement by the deputy chairman, Mr John Strack. The statement said: “At our bi-monthly meeting, held today, the headmaster, in the course of his usual report to the board, covered the resignation of Mr Mills and his subsequent application and appointment for the advertised position. “The board received the report and, after full discussion, saw no reason to change its policy of leaving staff appointments to the headmaster. “Letters both for and against the appointment were tabled and these will be answered in due course.” Mr Strack would make no further comment on the meeting. However, the board’s

statement has done nothing to satisfy a group of “concerned Anglicans" who at the school on Monday held a protest against Mr Mills’ reappointment There were several reasons why the decision should be changed, said a spokesman for the protesters, Mrs Jenny Schroeder.

“It is naive to pretend the tour has not encouraged the apartheid regime. This link with oppression surely affects John Mills’ suitability as a teacher,” said Mrs Schroeder. Of a reported comment by Dr Rosser that Mr Mills “should be forgiven,” Mrs Schroeder said that theologically, forgiveness followed repentance, “and we have no statement of repentance from him.”