SUMMER HOLIDAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 301, 16 December 1908, Page 2

SUMMER HOLIDAYS.

SCHOOL TEACHERS AND EDUCATION BOARD. At lust night's meeting of the Education Hoard, ilr. R. L. Mcllroy, secretary of the Turnnaki district of the New Zealand Educational Institute, for winded a copy of a resolution passed at the last meeting of the branch requesting that the Board reconsider its decision regarding Christmas holidays, and grant six week* instead of five, on the grounds that the (teachers' examinations were held in January and June, and very little time was left after the conclusion of th» examinations before the schools reopened (forty-two teachers sitting for examinations this year); that six weeks ■ were given in nearly every other edu- ' cation district in the Dominion; furtjher, '• several of the schools were overcrowded * at present, and it would not be beneficial ' to the health of the children to bring J- them hack to school too soon during ' the hottest part of the year. Y Mr. Tiseh reported the request, upon " Ihe grounds put forward by the Insti--1 tute. He saw a o reason why the Taraa nnki Board should be out of line with e the rest of the Dominion in this matter. The chairman said that the Board should obtain particulars of tho usages of the other Boards in this matter, and perhaps rearrange the holidays »ext year. Xo action could be taken now, for the resolution to grant five weeks could not be rescinded without notice. Ho had favored five weeks upon the recommendation of parents, who comv plained there were too many holidays. ■ ti lu the country schools some of the children could hardly receivo nine months' schooling.

Mr. Morison thought there were too many breaks in the school time, but lie believed in the six weeks' midsummer vacation, with only a week (instead of two weeks) in midwinter. The holidays in the winter were not appreciated, for they were too short to enable the teachers or pupils to get away from their school surroundings. He thougnt the Board would do well to consider the persons in its employ, thus ensuring better work. His enquiries led him to believe that tho parents liked the longer midsummer holidays. Mr. Kennedy said the teachers wero to blame in a way, for they should have npplied earlier. He favored enquiry into the matter. *

The chairman mentioned the secretary's remark to him that afternoon Hint the teachers' selection committee was going to have grcut difficulty in staffing the schools next year, and an extra week would be of great value to the Board.

Mr. Faull said he could not see how the matter could be discussed. It was out of order.

Tho chairman: If the Board is uaanluious the motion cau be rescinded.

. Sir. Fmill: 1 ain't. iMr. Trimble, also objected, and the discussion was blocked.

It was decided to hold over the matter until this morning, BACIvBLOOKS HOLIDAYS.

The teacher a nd parents of children attending the Okoke ijnd Piko school asked the Board to so arrange that the holidays should he a moath in midsummer and a month in midwinter, owing to the, bad roads and heavy rainfall in winter.—Unanimously agreed to.