EDUCATION COSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20655, 29 August 1930, Page 14

EDUCATION COSTS.

DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Alleging that interference by the Education Department in tho past has resulted in misunderstanding and waste of money and time, tho Auckland Grammar School Board has prepared a circular citing a number of cases of reported unbusinesslike departmental methods. There is a sprinkling of humour in one case quoted, which relate# to the appointment of a teacher. Tho circular states that on February 7, 1930, the board was informed by tho department that a certain teacher had been appointed to the Grammar School. On February 13, tho department acknowledged receipt of tho board's letter, dated February 7. and agreed regarding tho salary to bo paid to tho teacher. At the end of March, April and May the board forwarded copies of tho . monthly paysheets to tho department, each of which showed monthly payments to t lie teacher.

Tho statement adds: "One would imagine that by this timo tho department would have known where tho teacher was. Yet on Juno 28 tho department, wrote informing t ho bo ,y\ t hat the teacher was employed in a Hamilton school on May 31. On Juno 30, (ho board informed tho department that the teacher had been employed at the Grammar School since inarch 3. Tho depattment advised on July 8 that a. further, search of its records had disclosed the fact that tho teacher left Hamilton on February 28." Among other instances quoted is that of the purchase of a site for the Takapuna Grammar School. It is stated tho board chose a central site between Devonport, and Norlheolo in the Borough of Takapuna. However, tho department forced tho board to purchase (he present site, which is on a stoop slope and has a soil of heavy clay. It is alleged that the. action of tho department cost an extra £20,655. This figure is computed as follows : —Cost of school site, £4482; improvements, U3173; total, £7655. Cost of tho sito selected by tho board and improvements as now carried out by iho Takapuna Borough Council, £3OOO. To the extra cost of £4655 is added tho cost of a new secondary school at Northcote, estimated at £20,000, making in all, £24,655. The cost of four additional classrooms at Tidcapuna, estimated at £4OOO, is offset against this, thus leaving an extra expenditure of £20,655, alleged to ho duo to tho action ot tho department in overruling tho board.