SCHOOL CLOSING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1678, 24 February 1917, Page 2

SCHOOL CLOSING.

AVIIEN the* discussion on school closing during the hot weather took place at the Wanganui Education Board meeting on Wednesday, Mr Alt'. Fraser stated that the Foxlon school had only closed during the period to “20th February on one half-day. This was a mistake, as the local school did not (dose at all. during that period. When the telegram on the subject from the Board reached the chairman of the local School Committee the latter conferred with the Board chairman per telephone and arranged that the local school should not (dose unless the heat made it imperative to do so. A drop in temperature followed, and although the instruction to close the school during the afternoons was definite, it was not carried out. Several other schools carried out the instruction to the letter, a quite unnecessary procedure. It appears that some school teachers are only too willing to close the schools under the slightest pretext. It would be a different matter, however, if the rule applied: no work,'no pay. The closing of the schools unless for good and sufficient reasons means a deliberate waste of public money, and a set-back to the educational welfare of the pupils. It would appear that some teachers under the Board’s jurisdiction need their consciences awakened on this point,

iind school committees also should exercise more authority, as they are responsible not only to the Board, hut to the State concerning the educational welfare of their schools. Committees would do well to remember that their powers extend to wider regions than the cleanliness of school buildings. To get back to school (dosing on account of. excessive heat. If school buildings and (dass rooms were constructed on common sense lines as to light, air Hushing and ventilation generally, there would be no necessity to close the schools on account of high temperature. But numbers of class rooms in hot weather are veritable “black holes of Calcutta,” and it is scandalous to expect scholars and teachers to carry on in the circumstances. There should be no niggardly cheeseparing by the Department in connection with school buildings. School environment should be a vital primary consideration —the health and well-being of the child in school hours.