SCHOOLBOYS ON STRIKE
A MATTER, OF HOLIDAYS. A. strike of schoolboys occurred at tho Petersham Central Commercial College, Sydney, 011 Monday, June 17. Practically : 11 the third-year scholars having refused duty. 0110 class was entirely deserted when lessons commenced. Later iu the day two delinquents were brought along by irate parents Before the day's duty closed four penitents had seen tho error of their ways. Next day about 14' of the class out of :ll wore in their places, but the strike was not over. The whole trouble arose out of the holiday question. High schools have a fortnight at midwinter; even the girls' intermediate school in the same group of buildings as the Petersham Commercial enjoys the two weeks. But the boys have only one week, and that includes Prince of Wales' Birthday. This caused tho trouble. Tlie boys had tho private sympathy of most of tho teaching staff. Mr. Gray, the principal, looked with grave disapproval 011 tho serious breach of discipline, and took the necessary steps for the adequate punishment of the offenders. But even he, 011 being pressed, iiad to admit that there was. something of an anomaly in the giving of holidays to the girls which were denied to tlio [toys. Tho lads concerned are big, impulsive fellows, just at that age when they are beginning to get the first glimpse of life from the adult point to view. Their curriculum includes politics, civics, and industrialism. They are quick to apply theories to their own environment, and leady to resent any undue encroachment 011 their privilege's. There are evidences that tiie position had been fully discussed in n'leeting duly assembled, and thai: a strike motion was adopted in proper form. At all events, when t.he doors opened 011 the Monday morning there were 50 or GO absentees. Inquiries wero set 011 foot among the parents, li: was elicited that the development had been discussed in some of the homes, and mothers and fathers approved. In the others the parents were ignorant of the strike, and there wero in consequenco many contrite youths in and around Petersham 011 the night of the strike. The Central Commercial School at Petersham is the largest in Australia. Its pupils number over IWII.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 6
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373SCHOOLBOYS ON STRIKE Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 6
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