HIGH SCHOOLS’ GOVERNORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3671, 22 July 1924, Page 9

HIGH SCHOOLS’ GOVERNORS.

The regular meeting of the High Schools' Board of Governors was attended by Dr G. E. lhompson (chairman), the Hon. D. T. Fleming, .Messrs J. M. Gallaway, il. L. lapley, J. C. Stephens, II Webb, and W. R. Brush. Ihe financial statement showed receipts amounting to £2306 12s 7d and an excess of receipts over payments of £439 2s. There was a totai debit balance of £5131 3s Bd. ihe Education Department wrote intimating that an expenditure of £219 had been approved for electric lighting at the Boys’ High School out of endowment revenue ihe Department of Education wrote pointing out that the definition of "parent” as prescribed by the amendment to the scheme of control tor secondary schools restricted the term to either the lather or tile mother. It had been suggested that provision should be made for election by both parents. The Council of Education bad approved of toe proposed change, it was desirable that there should be uniformity in the matter, and before taking action the department desired to have ail expression ot opinion from all boards, ihe board approved ol the system of election by both parents. A preliminary circular was received from the Education Committee of the .New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition announcing its general plans and inviting suggestions. Ihe Chairman stated that the board was in full sympathy with the committee, and was already working in co-operation with it. Charles Lane, Invercargill, wrote applying tor sawmilling rignts on blocks V and \ ill, Aloicoieia district. After discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Sfepnens, that the application be forwarded to die Education Department with the explanation that the board is inclined to refuse the request for the reason that the timber is likely to become more valuable as the years go by, aad that as a question of general practice in selling timber is involved the board would be glad to have the department’s views. It should be explained aiso that in any case tne coal'd would not grant the application without having first consulted tne Forestry Department. ihe monthly report of the Rector was as follows: —I have to report that the total number of boys now on the school roll is 693, 169 of these being seniors, 599 juniors, and 25 paying pupns. Tile corresponding totals for July 1919-1923 are respectively 477, 478, 513, 570, and 383. IVlr P. 3. de Q. Cabot, who was appointed as temporary substitute until Mr 3. R. Crimp could be released by the Gisborne school, duly took up work on July 1. and has shown himself a most willing helper. Captain "Gipsy” Smith visited tne school on the morning of Thursday, July 10, and gave a brief and interesting address to the boys dealing mainly with incidents of his own boyhood and school days, which was much appreciated. — ihe report was received. The Lady Trmcipal reported: The roll number is as follows: —Senior free place 166, Junior free place 318, fees 12; total, 496. The total roll tor July, i 923, was 463; for July, 1922, 449: and for July, 1921, 387. 'J he average attendance for June last was 480.4. Miss Downes is relieving, pending the appointment of a D Grade assistant, vice Miss MacGregor. 'lhe school was visited on July 1,2, and 3 by the secondary school inspectors, for purposes of award of senior free places and of general inspection.—The report was received. With reference to the heating system at the Girls’ High School the Works Committee reported that Messrs Mandeno and Eraser had investigated the matter referred to in the Lady' Principal’s letter of June 13 last, and had submitted their report to the committee. The radiators referred to in the Lady Principal’s letter were, they unflerstood, in the cookery demonstration room and rooms adjoining it. The architects pointed out- that these were below the level of the boiler and that it was asking a good deal of hot water to expect it to heat the radiators in these parts, liiey suggested dropping four new vertical 1-inch pipes from the main flow pipe in the roof and taking one to each of the four radiators concerned. They estimated the cost at £4O. The committee had authorised them to do this work upon the understanding that they would experiment on one radiator and find the result satisfactory before proceeding with the other three.— Ihe report was adopted, the work to be carried out.

The committee appointed to consider matters arising out of the recent High School Boards’ conference submitted a report, which, after consideration, was adopted in the following form: — We have considered the letter from the High Schools Boards’ Association stating that the Minister of Education had promised that he would carefully consider,

and amend or abolish if necessary, any regulations which could be shown to be unduly irksome, and asking the board to forward to the association any suggested amendments. We have had reports from the lady principal, rector, and secretary, and now recommend that suggestions us under be forwarded by the board :

Part-time Teachers (Reg. 25). —An annual grant at a rate not exceeding £1 per pupil is made to the board for the payment of part-time teachers holding positions approved by the director. Boards should be given power to expend, without reference to the department, such part of the allowance as they consider necessary. In our opinion, boards could be trusted not to spend more than was necessary. Leave of Absence (Reg. 55). —Boards have power to grant teachers leave on full pay in special cases for three days only, and thev must explain the circumstances to the department. With the approval of the Director, seven days’ leave with pay may be granted. We are of opinion that boards should lie given power to grant, sav, seven days’ leave on full pay without referring lie matter to the department. This regulation also makes provision for the granting of leave on full pay for three days in addition to travelling time necessary to attend the funeral of a mother, father, wife, or child. We suggest that similar provision should be made in the case of the death of a sister, brother, or other relative Appointments and Resignations (Reg. 37, 6).—This regulation provides that, subject to his right of appeal, the appointment of a permanent teacher may be determined by the board on giving three months’ notice or by the teacher on giving at least two months’ notice. It has teen the board’s custom to make most of its appointments terminable by three months’ notice from cither side, and in special cases appointments have been made for a stated period We suggest that boards should be given

power to appoint principals and senior assistants for a period of years, and provision be maue for other appointments to te,r----minat-e at the end of a term following the expiry of three months’ notice from either side. Two other alterations should be made in the regulations, and, if necessary, in the Act. (a) No teacher should have the right to resign his position except after serving tor at least one school year, provided that the board may in exceptional cases allow such resignation. (b) Where a teacher has been appointed for a fixed term in pursuance of the above suggestion the appointment should absolutely determine at pvrl of such term without any right of appeal. Temporary Teachers (Reg. 40). —Except in special circumstances, and with the pproval of the Director of Education, no relieving teacher can be appointed to any position unless his services are likely to be required for a. period of more than one week. The rector reports that much inconvenience is caused when college and university examiantions are proceeding and when epidemics are prevalent, and we agree with his suggestion that boards should in such circumstances be allowed to engage uny casual assistants, satisfactory to the principal, who may be available, even tuough they may not be required, or may r -ot be able to give their time, for a week or mere. Incidental Expenses (Page 17 of N. 11). — 3e think the regulations regarding the incidental expenses should be widened so as to permit boards to use for any purpose m connection with their secondary departments any surplus available after providing for the ‘items mentioned in clause 1. Length o-f School Year (Page 18, N. 11). — In May last- advice was received from the department, through the rector, that regulations are under consideration giving the alternative of 970 hours of actual school •work in lieu of 585 half-days, and that the alternative may be acted on in anticipaLon. jhe board entered its protest against the_ extension of the year to 385 days, and, while ino proposal to allow an alternative of 970 hours is preferable, the old regulation, which simply required that there be I hree terms of about 13 weeks, gave a reasonable latitude to schools, and avoided tile disadvantage of rigid uniformity. It should, in our opinion, be reverted to. Private Scholarships.---We make mo recommendation with respect to the proposals contained in one of the board’s remits to tne conference—viz., “(1) 1 hut the Education Act should be amended to permit a private scholarship of any amount being held with a National Scholar-bin and (2) f hut Ihe free place regulations should be amended to abolish the limit of value of any private scholarship that may be held with a free place in a secondary school,” as we understand the Director cf Education gave an assurance at the conference that these had already been approved and were awaiting legislation. With reference to the association’s -request inat the board should state definitely whether it is on the whole satisfied with the administration of the department, we recommend that a reply be sent in ihe following terms:—“The board is dissatisfied with the tendency to curtail the powers of boards and to require the reference of matters of littlo importance to the department. In general, the board has :io other complaint to make.”