NGATEA SCHOOL HOURS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5204, 16 November 1927, Page 4

NGATEA SCHOOL HOURS.

EARLY STARTING CONFIRMED. A MEMBER RESIGNS. The Ngatea District High School Committee at a special meeting on October 22 fixed the time at which school should commence from the coming into force of the Summer Time Act as 10.30 a.m. After two days’ trial a referendum of parents was taken. Three tjimes—9.3o a.m., 10 a.m., and 10.30 a.m.—were submitted, and the voting was 42 for 9.30 a.m., 18 for 10 a.m., and 24 for 10.30 a.m. When this result was known members of the committee were communi-

cated with, and a majority being agreeable to abiding by the wishes <f parents, instructions were given to open the school on Monday last at 9.30 a.m. This was proving of great benefit to the bus-drivers.

The matter came up at the monthly meeting of the committee on Monday evening.

On the reading of the minutes Mr Davidson asked why the instructions contained therein were not being adhered to.

The chairman reported that he had asked the (headmaster to conduct the referendum.

Mr Davidson complained that the committee should have been called together to discuss the matter before any change was made to the decision of the previous meeting. He contended that the tone of the note indicated that the committee desired the change. This was denied by the chairman.

The secretary pointed out that it was illegal to open the school after 10 a.m. or continue it aftieir 4 p.m. Mr Davidson said that this made the position worse. The chairman said he was hot aware of the clause in the Act, until afterwards.

Mr Baker said it, would have been better to have taken the referendum before the committee had decided. This was agreed to by Messrs Davidson and Burke, who remarked that it was a pity it had not been thought of. Arising out of a discussion on approaching members by telephone, the secretary said that he had had enough of his job and would resign forthwith. The amount of work was such that tihe job should be a paid! one. Mr Foster said that he had been approached by several parents who were opposed to opening early and this had altered his opinion.

Mr Burke pointed out that children ■had been seen eating their breakfast as they walked to school in the morning. On the chairman asking if there was any further discussion on the school hours, Mr Davidson intimated that he would resign as a protest against the action of a majority of the committee acting contrary to a resolution without having it rescinded. The headmaster stated that when the school was opened at 10.30 a.m. children were in the playground at 9.15 a.m. When the ballot whs taken it was found that the parents of these children favoured opening at 10.30 a.m. The; school w.as opened for the first time that morning, and no difficulty was experienced. No children were> late. He was sure that all the children favoured starting at thq early hour. He was, personally in favour of it. and all the, staff were enthusiastically in favour of early starting.

The chairman said summei; time was law, and he vras of the opinion that everyone should make a genuine attempt to abide by it.

Thej secretary said that it was less inconvenient for children to bei sent to school at the early hour in the summer time than at the later hour in the winter time.

Messrs Burke and Davidson argued that it was not fair to compare winter and summer conditions on farms.

Mr Davidson said they had come, to tender their resignations, so did not want to be late at their last meetiing. After a long discussion on farm conditions, Mr McDuff said that the early hours should be given a’trial fjor the benefit of the staff and the majority of parents as expressed at the ballot.

Mr eixplained that it had not been possible to hold a meeting of the committee last week, as many members had expressed, thejir inability to be present. The view l o£ the majority of committeemen was in favour of changing at the beginning of, the next week to the earlier hour.

Mr Davidson reiterated his complaint against the principle of 'acting contrary to a resolution without discussing the rescinding of it. He did; not see apy benefit in discuss: ing the matter further, as the Educat ion Act provided that there wqre to 1 be twohours’ school before midday. Asked about his resignatj ion, Mr Davidson said that he woul d withdraw it if tihe chairman would give an undertaking not to act contr; ary to a resolution of the committee.

Mr McDuff declined to I do this, pointing out that he was cm] ty one of tlip, committee. This was supported by, M r Baker, who pointed out that a ma; jority of the committee had favoured the proposal. It was not fair to s, eek this undertaking from one/ man a lone.

Mr Foster endorsed! Mr Dp vidson’s point of view.

Mr Davidson said that, ti ig rest of the committee could therefl ©re act in the future: without him.

Mr Barriball agreed that, a meeting should have beqn held to rescind) the motion, but in view of ti’ le fact that five members were favor irable to the change, and only two against, -and that a mqeting that v «ek was « ot possible, he did not thin A much harm had been done.

Mr McDuff tihanked Mr Davidson for his past services 4 the committee.