HIGH SCHOOLS’ NEEDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1922, Page 7

HIGH SCHOOLS’ NEEDS.

BOARD CONFER WITH DIRECTOR. Mr. Caughley met the New Plymouth High Schools’ Board yesterday afternoon, when there were present: Messrs. J. S. Fox (chairman), H. Trimble, L. A. Nolan, F. W. Atkinson, S. G. Smith, M.P., E._ P. Webster, and A. E. Washer. The principal of the boys’ ’school (Mr. W. R. Moyes) and’ the principal of the girls’ school (Miss E. M. Maclnto.h) also attended. The chairman expressed pleasure in welcoming Mr. Caughley, whom the board recognised as a live man. Mr. Caughley said he was glad to have the opportunity of discussing matters of interest with the board. Speaking with reference to the grading system for secondary school teachers, the chairman said the board’s experience had been that the system was a failure. Mr. Caughley said he thought the real trouble was the shortage of secondary school teachers. There were at present nine male ' teachers graded A who held B positions; the B gradings and positions balanced; there was a slight surplus of C teachers; whilst almost anyone who entered the teaching profession was graded D. As regarded women teachers, the numbers were much in excess in each grade. The chairman said one difficulty in getting suitable teachers seemed to be the question of paying removal expenses. Would the department consider the question of paying these? Mr. Caughley replied that this opened up a path for the expenditure of between £BO,OOO and £90,000, as it would be only fair to grant the same concessions to primary school teachers, and the expense entailed was altogether too great. After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Caughley said the department was anxious to go into the grading position, as it seemed to be affecting the acquirement of teachers; but he had always understood that the trouble at New Plymouth was caused by the shortage of teachers. Other matters brought before the director’s notice were the laundry at the boys’ school, asphalting paths, and an application for a subsidy for an organ for church services. Mr. Caughley undertook to place these matters before the right authorities, and the meeting terminated after the chairman had conveyed the thanks of the board to Mr. Caughley for his visit. Mr. Caughley was later taken out to inspect the girls’ high school. The director returns to Wellington this morning.