Public Schools

Levin Daily Chronicle, 24 February 1917, Page 3

Public Schools

A R/EDENT CLUING ORDER. Some discussion took place at the last meeting of the Wanganui 'Education Board on the Board's recent action in closing the town schools at mid-day during the heat wave. ' The chairman (Mr Piiani) said since the last meeting Mr Sewell hacf suggested closing the town schools at mid-day during the heat wave, and he (the chairman) had readily fallen in with the idea.

'"1 would have thought the headteachers in the big schools could liavo been trusted not to close the schools on cool days," continued the chairman. "We have a few conscientious teachers ,in our schools, but 1 am surprised to find there are so few. Lytton street school (F'eilding) was closed right through during the! afternoons, but the district high school only on about if our occasions. This fechio'dl was kept open on the cool clays. At Palmenston North I believe one teacher wanted to keep \his school open, but the others wanted to close— it was a good thing for them. I believe exactly the same thing occurred in Wanganui—some of the teachers thought it a good idea to close the schools every day.

Mr Eraser: The Foxton school was closed one half-day only.

Proceeding, the chairman paid teachers might have 'been expected to exercise a little common sense and discretion. The board did not want to coop the children up in hot weather. He bid since given instructions to open the schools. Mr Joblin considered the instructions should have been general. Ho could not see what conditions could wo vail at Marton and ; Hunterville, and n'ot at Taihape. The chairman said the altitude was higher at Taihape, and the weather cooler. A special request had been made by the 'Hunterville committee on account of the crowded state' of the school. • Personally l he had agreed provided the secondary department was carried on.

Mr Joblin: The position should be governed by the temperature.

The chairman: The matter would be best left in .the hands of the committee and not with the teachers..

/Mr Collins pointed out that in some of the country schools the children had to walk three or four miles home and then milk cows. They did not have baths to get into like town children.

The chairman said some discretionary power was necessary in summer time, and it would be better if some regulation jvas framed. The 'board would not try the experiment again after the experience it had.

Mr Christie said, at Ohakune some of the teachers wanted to know if the school' would be closed, but the head teacher (Mr Furrie) decided to keep it open. The chairman: That's the difference —the teacher! The chairman's action in arranging for the closing of the schools was approved, and it was intimated that an endeavor would bp made to get the regulation referred to in the discussion framed.