CHRIST’S COLLEGE

Evening Star, Issue 20558, 9 August 1930, Page 14

CHRIST’S COLLEGE

THE HEADMASTERSHIP CHANGE OF POLICY SUGGESTED [Special to the ‘ Stak.’J CHRISTCHURCH, August 8. The resignation of _the Rev. E. C. Crosse as headmaster of Christ’s College opens up the question of whether the Board of Governors of the College will now make _ a departure from their traditional policy of always importing a distinguished scholar from England to fill the position, with a view to keeping the college moulded on English Public School lines. Among the old boys of the college is a very considerable section that is strongly of opinion that Mr A. E. Flower, the senior assistant master, should succeed Mr Crosse. Mr Flower is a New Zealander by birth, and has spent prac-. tically the whole of his life at Christ’s College, first as pupil, and since then as a member of the teaching staff. When the position of headmaster was vacant.in 1920, consequent upon the resignation of Mr G. E. -Blanch, there was a strong body of opinion in favour of the appointment of Sir Flower.' The Board of Governors, however, decided against the appointment of a New Zealander. The tradition of the college is that the occupant of the position of headmaster should be an Englishman, and, if possible, a clergyman, but despite this, old boys and many friends.of the college are firmly of opinion that _it would bo a desirable change to appoint Mr Flower. Christ’s College has been accused of being too and while this suggestion is repudiated, there is no doubt that it gains ground from the fact that the English Public School atmosphere is so strongly maintained at the college. Among those who advocate the appointment of Mr Flower, the opinion is held that, with him as headmaster, the college would lose none of its prestige, but that, while its traditions would be securely maintained, it would become rather more human, ft has been asserted that many parents have refrained from sending their eons to Christ’s College because of the fear that they may become snobbish.