SCHOOL STAFFS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 20

SCHOOL STAFFS.

Question of Capitation Allowances. CIRCULAR ISSUED. A circular dealing with the staffing of primary schools and the vexed question of capitation allowances has been issued by the New Zealand Educational Institute for distribution, through its branches, to school committees, with the suggestion that it should be incorporated in speeches at breaking-up ceremonies. The circular, which is headed “Justice for the Primary School —ls this Fair?” reads as follows:—-

“In the staffing of schools, two basically different principles are in operation, namely, average number in attendance for the previous year, and roll number at March 1, that is, at the peak for the current year. The average attendance basis operates for primary schools, the roll number basis for intermediate, secondary, technical and combined schools. Why the discrimination ?

“ Why, also, the further discrimination in the numerical basis of staffing? Why should primary schools be staffed on a basis of forty pupils in average attendance (including the head master) and secondary schools on the basis of twenty-five on the roll up to 300 and twenty-eight thereafter (excluding the head master) ?

“ In actual •working, including head teachers in all cases, schools of 300 pupils (without regard to whether roll or average attendance is the basis) are staffed as follows: Primary, 7 teachers: secondary department of district high schools, Hi (assuming head teacher required to devote half-time to secondary department) ; secondary, 13; technical and combined, 12.

“ A primary school with an average attendance of from 281 to 320 pupils receives £ll2 in capitation allowances A secondary school with a roll of 300 pupils receives about £540. Does this constitute justice for the primary school ?

“ In this connection the following extract from the November issue of 'National Education’ is of interest: ’ Bottle-Oh ! ’—Schools often raise funds by ‘ bottle drives,’ says the October Gazette, and goes on to draw the attention of teachers to a case where, some boys were reported to the police for the theft of bottles for this purpose. This reference to bottle collecting for school purposes reminds us of a series of public notices recently published in the West Australian Teachers’ Journal. “ ‘The first announces that the head master and staff of the Blink State* School have arranged a fancy dress ball in the memorial hall, the proceeds being for the purpose of the purchase of a library for the school; the second announces that the captain and officers of TI.M.A.S. Bumpshire have arranged a fancy dress ball in the Eyrie Theatre, the proceeds being for the purpose of procuring a new 6in gun for the forward turret; the third, that the engineers of Canning Dam have arranged a sale of work in the Canning Agricultural Ilall in order to raise funds for the purpose of a new concrete mixer for the job: the fourth, that the conservator and officers of the Forest Department have arranged a concert in the Darling Hall, the proceeds to go towards the purchase of timber for the erection of a new fire look-out: and the fifth, that the chief engineer and officers of the Public Works Department are holding a pets’ afternoon on the municipal lawn, the proceeds being for the purchase of gear for the drafting room. “‘The journal asks if any teacher can say why the first of these notices makes sense and the others nonsense.’ ”