EARLY SCHOOL HOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1912, Page 2

EARLY SCHOOL HOURS.

AffSOVEB BY BlAOlUSTEaSspecial oajiiurxtK's report. A waU-attandad meeting of the Auckland Headmasters' Association, with the presaient, Mr. H. 6. Cousins, intbe-eosur, (tlyjTMtil, last' evening tie recent experiment in tl>e chaage of school hours. After a keen and interesting discussion, the association adopted, the report ot its special towmhtti with slight amendments, as tnder. Several clauses were carried unanimously, and uiost of the others bv large majorities, bat one o» two were cloeely coat—ted (1) Gaaarally for aaweral weeks after the re-opening of schools following the suisnuer vacation, the weather is so enervating to puuUa and teachers that the good effects of the holiday are somewhat nullified. (2) Overcrowded schoolrooms, imperfectly ventilated, have mwsnerrmes been

almost intolerable daring afternoon school.

(3) The opening of school at &30 am and its closing at 2JSd pun., offered relief from the boon of greatest trial. (4) Such a change of time-table in the public schools caUad for considerable re-arrangement in domestic affairs, particularly in the preparation of extra meals.

(5) The general cheerful compliance on the part of parents in meeting the inconvenience of the change bus been most gratifying. (6) The new hours have been almost universally popular among the pupils. (7) The experiment has proved that these hours are thoroughly practicable in summer weather, though they entaii some disadvantages to be noted later. (8) Except during the first week of the month (February), the weather was unseasonable, and did not show the foil advantage of the early dismissal There can be no doubt that the hotter Che day the jaore effective has been the change. The children have benefited even this year, with a comparatively cold February; the benefit would be mora marked in a very hot month. (9) The following disadvantage* appear: (a) The early hoars entailed considerable hardship upon some parents, by depriving them of the helpful services of their children before school, although the disadvantage was to some extent counterbalanced by the extra help obtained from children in the afternoon. (b)The shortening of the dinner interval to one hour has curtailed the time available for the preparation of afternoon lessons, and has also resulted in more children being obliged to bring their luncheon to school. In conclusion, it is noted that if the Daylight Saving Bill were passed, and the hours of the whole community thereby altered correspondingly, then the change would show all the present advantages and be free from anv disadvantages.

As a practical outcome of this experiment, the association suggests that the ordinary school hours (apart from those for hot weaher) should he: Moraine. 9 to 12; afternoon, either 1.30 to 3.30 or 1 to 3, according to each school's special requirement of a long or a short luncheon interval

The committee received a hearty rot* of thanks for their report.