Fo the Ealtor of the "Nonri-Cuna Dai New:
Sm—The SM.C- recently announced fan increase in school fees. "By a further circular from the Education Department I have now ascertained the full Import of the announcement and the extent of the increase and that. for an infant attending the kindergarten. Tam called upon to pay a sum equivalent to that paid for_an older child attending. school in England.
How this high gute is arrived at]
another matter of considerable surprise. The Council now pays its employees an allowance of 150. per cent. for HEL. and It may be as-Sumed that the Council" bases. this figure on the present cost of commodities.. The teachers in the Municipal school are, it, is assumed. Council employees and receive this TfCL. allowance. As will be seen from the accounts submitted by the Council on the first of each quarter, the parents are also called upon to pay for stationery in addition to the normal school fees. From. my. en-Quities T find that whilst some text-Books: are supplied (and these are! not new nor are" they being! replaced) any additional or extra text-books required have to. be purchased by the student. -Although Thave been unable to obtain definite information on. the subject and am therefore open to correction T assume that the school buildings are Counc! property and that the question of Increased rentals does not exist Assuming. therefore. that. all employees of the Education Department fre receiving an allowance of 150) per cent. and that all stationery. ete. has to be supplied by the student. 1 appears quite a mystery that a surcharge of 316 per cent. on basic fees Ig now necessary. Can it be that, the Couneit. knowing that parents. must have their children educated. have devised this means of obtaining tional revenue. If such be the case the increase. appears little. short of extortion. Or is It that the teachers! (some of whom hold qualifications that would Tot entitle them to. teach anything other than private schools anywhere but in Shanghai) re members of the very select body, fof "A" class employees holding posi tons which demand" payment Sterling.
The Council has increased the school fees without. apparently. any reference to the parents of thoughts for the hardships inflicted. T have] knowledge of more than one parent who Is paid. by the council" who. Under the new. scheme. Is pay-Ing more than. 20 per cent, of his salary to keep his two young children at school
thoroughly investigated a star time thatthe, matter, was stead of the pernicious custom Increasing the surcharge the Council system and oft Increases rather than polley of "Pay up and look pleasant fuse and stay ignorant."
rather inclined to think that} for the money now paid out in echod foes some enterprising and qualified teacher could well start a private school that would give better fell ities for education. sport and child-training than those now offered the children of A. Hanassen Paneer, Shanghai. June 1.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.