HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1935, Page 8

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

PARENTS’ REPRESENTATION. “UNSUITABLE CONSTITUTION.” SCHOOL COMMITTEES APEAL TO MINISTER. A fully representative meeting of the combined committees of the Hora Hora, Whangarei and Whau Valley schools was held in the Whangarei school. Mr C. V. Stringer was elected to the chair and explained the purpose of the meeting, this being to see if fuller representation for parents could not be obtained on the High School Board of Governors. Mr Stringer gave a. resume of the efforts made during the last 10 years to get the Minister of Education to alter the Act, which provided for a board consisting of nine members—two appointed by the Governors of the Auckland Grammar School, two by the Governor-General, two by the Auckland Education Board, one the Whangarei County chairman for the time being, and two elected by parents of pupils on the High School roll at the time of the election. Mr F. Mogford, representing the Hora Hora School, also gave some interesting figures in connection with the numbers of children passing over to the Junior High School. It was thought the request for all parents to be permitted choice in the election of governors was reasonable, seeing that the Junior High School was composed of approximately half pupils going up yearly to the higher or intermediate school, more especially taking into consideration the fact that the election was held only every two years. Mr O. P. Owen wanted to know why the Auckland Grammar School was represented. After lengthy discussion and very careful consideration, the following resolution was carried: — “That renewed protest be made to the Minister of Education concerning the unsuitability of the present -constitution of the Whangarei High School Board of Governors, and that the Minister be asked to consider the following suggested constitution as being much more in keeping with the present-day needs of the school district: The board to consist of nine members as at present, two to be appointed by the Government, two by the Auckland Education Board, three elected representatives of the Whangarei borough and two elected repre-, sentatives of the Whangarei county, the franchise for the election of the borough and county representatives to be as wide as possible consistent with efficiency.” It was further moved that the member for the district, Mr A. J. Murdoch, be furnished with a copy of the resolution and asked for his suppor/. Members of the committees were fully satisfied with the personnel of the board, but considered that the time had arrived for a change in method of choosing or electing that board. Householders, it was pointed out, elect their own school committees, but get very little say as to the administration of tire higher school. One suggestion made was that the chairman for the time being of each of the three borough schools should act on the Board of Governors. This did not meet with much support.