SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 57, 10 March 1890, Page 2

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

DISCUSSION AT THE EDUCATIONAL' INSTITUTE. »

SHOULD THE SCHOOLS BE CLOSED.. IN FEBRUARY ? '/'

A_ interesting discussion on the vexedquestion of school holidays took place.at' the meeting of the Auckland Educationali Institute on Saturday afternoon. There; was rather'a small attendance. Mr Worth.ington, President of the Institute, occupied the chair.

The President called on Mr Perch-alto propose the motion of which he had previ ousiy given notice. '■'■}«!_»

MrPercival said he Was sorry tosee.no' other secondary school teachers preseritVto? oppose or discuss his proposition from their point of view.. His motion was i! " __a. the distribution of the holidays in secondary schools requires amendment." Ac-* cording to the present system there were' three terms and thirteen weeks' hbjii:days. The Christmas holidays :j. ere'; given at such a time that- the' schools had to open in February,YmjShj the hottest month of the year, when rest'l was required for, pupils and teachers.-;,; All ■ nature seemed to require a resbat this period,. and children required the same. He .__ stress on the word distribution, because ha did hob think the 13 weeks were excess!v. holidays. He would diminish the holiday. } in winter, when holidays were somewhab of a nuisance, disturbing the work ibf the" school, by diminishing them four weeks in the cold and wet season, when children <:an work to best advantage and when they are better in school. Add these four weeks to 1 - the Christmas holidays and the schools cotild begin work in the beginning of March. In Germany nearly all State schools are closed, when the thermometer shows 20deg. Reau-:. mar, equal to about 77deg. Fahrenheit. Oa these grounds he thought secondary schools' —he only spoke from personal knowledge of such—should be closed during February,' and the winter holidays should be cur- 1 tailed.

Mr Scott' seconded the resolution. J. the public primary schools-experience confirmed the justice of Mr PercivalY remarks. •' • .. : - . ' ■

Mr Harrison said the quantity and quality of the work in February was not up to the average of the year. .If the secondary schools showed the way in the matter, i(j would be a good thing for the primary schools. During the last month teachers roust have noticed the laxity of the wolfi. Continuity of work was paosb importptfo the progress of the children, and ttw holidays in winter came as a troublesomelreak;

Mr Worbhington also spoke in fayour ot' the resolution. At the same tune ha thought the Board of Education wpuld pott be inclined to change the holiday syeteinafi present in force, but if the Board of Governors of the Grammar School' Showed the way they might educate the Board of Education to their view of the matter. ..,

Mr Percival said he simply wanted to ventilate the question. , ,: The motion was put and carried v nam. mously. On the motion of Mr Scot, it was resolved to send copies of the resolution to the Secondary Teachers' Union, to the .Board of Governors of the Grammar School, and tq the Board of Education.