NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1919, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS.

NECESSITY FOR ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION. ' —— -: 'v. A meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High Schools wits held on Monday evening, the following members being present: Messrs L. C. Sladden (chairman), H, Trimble, J. S. Fox, E. P. Webster, A. Morton, A. H. Johnstone, L. A. Nolan, E. A. Washer, and Dr. E. F. Fookes. The Director of Education (Dr. W. J. Anderson) wrote acknowledging receipt of a letter dated August 22, applying for grants for buildings as follows: ! (1) Additions to girls' school £4806. (2) Additions to boys' school £2(125. (3) Another boys' boarding-house £17,225. I (4) Girls' boarding-house £24,150. Total, £48,803. ''With reference to the proposed additions to the boys' school," the director wrote, "It must be pointed out that there are nine class rooms in the" new building and two in the older portion, in addition to the two laboratories, and that for a roll number of about 240 there should be no great urgency for further accommodation. It must also be considered that the Government cannot make any provision for the lower department pupils. The inspectors will shortly visit the school and the necessity should be brought under their notice. "'The girls' school has, in addition to its hall, cookery room, and science room, five class rooms, and these should make sufficient provision for the present roll of about 130 secondary pupils. Here again the lower department creates a difficulty, and it must be pointed out that in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act lower department pupils are not to be admitted if there is not room for all pupils qualified for free places, unless the cost of the class rooms occupied by such lower department has been met otherwise than out of the endowments of the school or out of the grants by the Government. "Regarding the application for an additional boys' boarding-house it must be considered that quite recently a grant was made in order to provide extra dormitory accommodation for the boys, and, further, that before the claims of the New Plymouth school for additional boarding accommodation could be recognised the more legitimate and pressing claims of many other schools which have little or no provision for boarders must he met. It has also to be pointed out that two other high schools have recently been [Provided for in Taranaki and that the probable effect of these schools on the attendance at New Plymouth must bo allowed for. „ "The proposed expenditure of so large a sum as £24,000 on a boarding-house for girls in connection with a school with the attendance of New Plymouth must be regarded as quite unwarranted under any circumstances, and especially so when it is considered that the board Ims at present provision for some 50 pupils at Strandon, the lease of which docs not expire for some seveji or eight, years. All that should be done under the circumstances is ,to provide for additional room, but it would he contrary to the department's practice to make grants for expenditure on leasehold premises such as Strandon. The whole question of grants for boarding-houses is still under consideration, but it is unlikely at present, when the demand elsewhere is much more urgent, that any assistance can be' given at New Plymouth." During the discussion exception was taken to the attitude of the Department towards the preparatory department of the school, and the fact that there was a demand for such a department made it imperative that the board should meet that demand. The framing of a reply to the letter from the Department was left in the hands of the chairman and Mr. Johnstone. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., in a telegram apologising for his absence, said that there was nothing to report yet as regards the application for gTants. The board confirmed the action of the chairman in authorising the letting of a contract for erecting in concrete additional bath and lavatory accommodation at the old boys' boarding-house to iMessrs Payne and Blancliard, at a price of £3Bl 7s 6d. SALARIES OF TEACHERS. The question of the inadequacy of the salaries paid to teachers in the schools was brought under the notice of the board by a joint letter from the principals of both schools. Mr. Moyes waited on the board in support of the claims set ofit in the letter, and drew attention to the disparity between the salaries paid to teachers in the secondary .schools and those offered by the Education 'Board /or some of its positions. He said that unless something was done to increase the salaries it would be practically impossible to secure the services of competent teachers. Eecommnedations were also made by the principals for the board's consideration with regard to the revision of boarding and preparatory department fees, as weU as the raising of teachers' salaries. It was pointed out that the best thing to do would be to wait for Parliament's decision regarding the increase of salaries and capitation, and the matter in the meantime was referred to the Finance Committee to obtain information as to the Government's proposals on the questions referred to, and to report to the board at an early date. Mention was made that the principals j must not be overlooked in any adjustment made.