SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 229, 27 September 1928, Page 20

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

UMFORMXTY W ANTED.

GRAMMAR SCHOOLS' POSITION

Speaking on behalf of the parents, Mr. 11. S. W. King asked the Grammar School Board at yesterday's meeting if anything could be done to make the grammar school holidays coincide with the primary school holidays. He stated that many parents had complained to him about the inconvenience caused by the holidays coming at different times, and they had also asked why secondary schools, with older pupils, should have the longer holidays. Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman of the board, said that in secondary schools the work was more difficult, and the strain greater, both for pupils and teachers than it was in the primary schools.- Hβ also remarked that the secondary school pupils had to do homework.

Mr. King: They have to do too much of it.

Professor Thomas stated tbat theoretically homework was graded, third forms (first year boys) being given H hours, fourth forms 2 hours, and fifth forms 2$ hours. Homework for the sixth forms was not specified. He admitted that gome children took much longer to do their homework than others, so that the ordinary amount feometimes appeared excessive in their case, and also tbat some masters gave more homework than they were entitled to. It was his belief, however, that it was a sroofl thing to keep children moderately busv.

"A lot depends on what the parents do," suggested Dr. Koberton. "If they teach the children to work steadily, without stopping every few minutes to waste time, they can get through their work surprisingly quickly." "At any rate.'i do not think any of the board wouia wish the grammar school holidays reduced," concluded Professor Thomas, "the responsibility of altering primary school holidays lies with the Education Board."