SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THE "MOVIES"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 303, 18 September 1919, Page 6

SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THE "MOVIES"

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?

At yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Education Board, Mr. J. J. Clark asked how it was that on certain occasions classes from some of the schools were allowed to, go to the pictures, by wiuit authority wore they permitted to go to pictures in school hours, and who gave that authority? Mr. Clark said that classes had been known to attend tho pictures of an afternoon instead of going to school, and he wished to know if tho board had given authority for such a procedure, of which the committee was kept iu ignorance—or did the headmaster tako it upon himself to send clasees to tho picture shows. The chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth) eaid tha't he did not think the matter camo within the scope of tho board. F*e< queutly ono saw the children—whole classes—on Mt. Victoria, and also at the "Zoo,"' getting practical lessons in Nature study. AVould Mr. Clark object to that? In tho matter of such studies a good deal had to be left to the discretion of fcho teachers, but tho wise headmaster would always bo doing well to consult his cominitteo. Was tho h'hn in question an educative ono? Mr. Clark said he was not questioning tlie value of the .film—he believed it was quito a good film. The chairman said that made a difference. If it wero an educative film it might bo quite a good film. Mr. Clark snid that his point was that wholo classes should not be allowed to be away from the school without tho chairman of the committee, at least, being consulted. In the caso of tlie children's visit to the New Zealand, they were brought in from Kilbirnie by special cars, and after they had inspected the ship tho children wero dismissed at tho wharf to make their way home as best they could. It was the same with thb picture idea. Tho children were brought in by car, and after they had seen tlu> picture they were dismissed to find their own way home. Tho chairman: Most committees work in with their headmasters in these matMr. G. London, with Mr. Clark, regretted that this sort of tiling, was not arranged in a inoro business-like manner. ■ • Mr. J. P. Shand said that a serious aspect of the matter was that when tho children went to tlie pictures the teachers had a holiday. Hβ had seon hundreds of ohildren going to a picture show with not more than two teaohera with thorn. If the children were permitted to go to picture shows, then the teacliers should accompany thorn. . ; , Mr. 'Clark asked finally if the chairman's ) ; ulin<? was that this sort of thing was a matter batween the headmaster. ond tho committee. • Mr. ForsyQi: Yes, that is the case.