inutes of last Meeting.
Grant Code.
Govern- ment School Fees.
ENCLOSURE No.3
114
MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING HELD
ON FRIDAY, 14TH MAY, 1948, IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBER, COLONIAL SECRETARIAT,
There were present Mr. M.G.O'Connor (Acting Director of Education and Chairman); Hon. M.K.Lo; Dr. the Hon. S.N. Chau; Mr. A. el Arculli; Rev. George She; Prof. R.K.M.Simpson; Rev. R.W. Gallagher, S.J.; Miss E.S.Atkins; Rev. Mother Angelica; Dr. (Miss) Lai Po Chuen; Mrs. M.M.Robertson; Mr. G.A.Goodban; Mr. L.G.Morgan; Mr. G.F.Rees; Mr. W.J.Dyer; Mr. Y.P.Law; Miss E.M. Gray; and Mr.J.M.Wilson(Acting Secretary).
The Chairman tendered apologies to Father Gallagher who had been sent no notice of the previous meeting because, mistakenly, he was thought to be absent from the Colony.
Paragraph 10 of the minutes of the last meeting (25th March, 1948) was amended to read "The question of an increase in Government school fees was discussed but no vote was taken". The minutes of the last meeting were then approved.
A schools attendance report for April was laid on the table.
The desirability of any changes in the Grant Code was considered by the Board. The attached letter from the Chairman of the Grant Schools Council had been circulated to members before the meeting.
At the request of the Chairman,Mr. L.G.Morgan outlined the various codes under which schools had been aided from 1924 to the present.
Rev. Father Gallagher spoke in favour of continuing the present grant on the grounds that it secured salaries for teachers in schools with low fees and that it should be given a longer trial, as proposed when it was first introduced before any changes were considered.
Mr. Goodban believed that a block vote code would give school managers more freedom of action and encourage initiative.
Rev. George She wished amendments to be made in the present code to preserve the individuality of the schools receiving grants.
Prof. Simpson, Dr. the Hon. S. N. Chau and Mr. Arculli also spoke in favour of continuing the present code with minor amendments to facilitate its working from the schools' and Government's points of view.
Rev. George She on the question of control in Repairs and Building suggested that the appointment of a School Buildings Officer should be considered.
After further discussion regarding the working of the Code, the Hon. M.K.Lo proposed the resolution
st
In the opinion of this Board there should be no change in the structure of the existing Code apart from minor amendments that may be necessary to effect smoother working".
This resolution was seconded by Prof. Simpson and approved by the Board with 14 in favour.
In the discussion all speakers stressed that security for the teachers must be assured.
In a discussion in which all members participated, the Board discussed fully the desirability or otherwise of increasing Government school fees, and then passed without dissent the following resolution which was proposed by the Hon. M.K. Lo and seconded by Dr. the Hon. S. N. Chau
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"It is the opinion of this Board that it is not
desirable to raise fees in Government schools.
The meeting adjourned at 4.35 p.m.
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