RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2126, 7 December 1920, Page 4

RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board of Governors of the Bangiora High School was held yesterday afternoon to consider the Education Department's new system of grading schools and teachers' salaries. There were present:—Messrs W. A. Banks (chairman), R. Ball, C. W. Bell, Jas. Marshall, H. Boyd, C. I. Jennings, and Rev. F. P. Fendail. A letter was received from the teaching staff of the school protesting against the new regulations, ana taking strong exception to the new grading list, as prepared by the Chief Inspector, In that ft was a grave injustice to some of the members of the staff. The board went fully into matters in connection with the protest, and decided that the teachers were justified, more particularly as the new scheme did not provide for conditions as laid down by the Chief Inspector when in Rangiora. It was unanimously decided that Messrs D. Jones and G. W. Forbes, M.P.'s, should be asked to meet the board in conference next week, with a view to having the new grading scheme put on a more equitable basis. It was decided that the following resolution should be forwarded to the Minister of Education at once:—'"The board understood from Mr T. R. Cresswell, when he was explaining the scheme, that country schools were to be put on the same footing as town schools as regards grading and salaries, but under the new scheme now presented, country schools are to be at an absolute disadvantage, as they are only likely to get applications from dissatisfied town teachers (sec clause 7, Circular No. 187). The department already recognises in the primary schools that country teachers should have extra consideration. In regard to secondary schools, the department appears to have reversed this policy." The following resolution was also carried and ordered to be forwarded to the Minister: —"In reference to general expenses, it is the opinion of this board that the fiat rate is absolutely absurd. In

the primary schools a flat rate is paid by the Government, and then a grading scheme is worked out by each Education Board. It Is absolutely unreasonable to think that a small school can be worked on the same rate as a large school. Whilst £3 10/- may cover a large town school, it is impossible to keep a school like our own on such a small sum. While a fixed sum Is granted to Die department, the schools should be graded for the amounts that they are to receive." It was decided to increase the salary of the farm manager to £250 per annum. The Hostel Committee was instructed to call applications for the position of matron at the Boys' Hostel, owing to the resignation of Mr and Mrs Barrell. The department forwarded regulations providing that in future all hostels were to be run by the board and not by private individuals.