READY RESPONSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26617, 13 November 1947, Page 10

READY RESPONSE

CENTENNIAL BILLETING SCHEME ACCOMMODATION FOR CHILDREN Every effort is being made by the education authorities in Dunedin to ensure that country children will have an opportunity of enjoying and deriving benefit from the Carnival Week functions in connection with the Centennial of Otago. An indication of the manner-in which townspeople are co-operating in this aim is given by their response to the appeal for accommodation for country children. Already over 500 beds have been offered for Central Otago children who will visit the city for one week from Monday, February 23. ... Approximately 300 applications have been received for accommodation, but more are expected. Billetting arrangements are actually being delayed at present because some teachers in Central Otago have been tardy in sending in details of the number of children from their schools who are expected to visit Dunedin for the Carnival Weekcelebrations. Although no official announcement has been made by the Education Board, it is expected that all schools in the province will be closed during the week. Parents and teachers generally are of the opinion that there would be a high rate of absenteeism during Carnival Week should the schools carry on as usual, and it is expected that the education authorities will take action accordingly. Many teachers consider that any time lost from ordinary classes would be compensated for by the educational value of the numerous functions which will be held. “While, to all intents and purposes, the closing of the schools would amount to a holiday, there is much of value to the children to be gained by their attending such displays as will be presented,’ commented a school teacher yesterday. He added that the aim of teachers was. not only to give children the opportunity of seeing what had been achieved during the past 100 years, bin to instil in them a realisation of the responsibility that rested with them in the future development of the province.