CHRIST'S COLLEGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 8

CHRIST'S COLLEGE.

Whex tho warden of Christ's College is himself an advocate of the reform of tho constitution of the governing body of tho institution wo need not hesitate to urge that tho controlling authorities should take this matter into consideration without further delay. Christ's College is working under a constitution framed more than half a century ago, and its weakness, as Bishop Julius told our representative yesterday, is quito obvious to the members of the Board of Governors. The srhool is a Church institution and tho constituency directly interested in its administration in the early days was a small one. It is small still, in comparison to the total population, and doubtless that is one reason why there has never been a serious agitation for reform.. As ion the governors, they

have been content to administer their trust conscientiously, reflecting probably that a.s legislation would be required to amend the constitution the promotion of a Bill might ba delayed until the growth of the population and of tho school rendered amendment imperative. As for the public outside the Anglican Church, whatever they may have thought of the position they were restrained from criticism by the fact that tho school is a Church insitutioxi. P»ut wo arc quite sure that this attitude is not sound. The College is one of tho prominent secondary institutions of the dominion, and its welfare is very much the concern of the whole, community. We do not propose to enter here into a discussion of the administration of tho College, but recent events have shown beyond any doubt that tho Board has been working too long in one groove and that it stands sorely in need of independent thought and new ideas at its meetings. It rhould not be difficult to devise a constitution admitting a regular infusion of new blood into the administration and bringing new minds to bear on questions of internal economy. Somo excellent Australian church schools might provide a model. There is a good deal of warm feeling on the subject among tho parents of the present pupih and among old boys who watch tho College and its progress with keen interest, and we have no doubt that if the Board of Governors were to draft a scheme of reform it would have tho support of everyone who takes an intelligent interest in the work of secondary education.