OPENING OF THE SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 4

OPENING OF THE SCHOOLS.

FURTHER DEIAY DISCUSSED. \

j WORK FOE THE TEACHERS.

The continued closing of the schools on account of the prevailing epidemic was mentioned at the Education Board meeting to-day. Mr. T. U. Welb remarked that now the schools had been closed till March 16 it seemed rather hard to require some of the teachers to be back for ten days or so when the schools were closed. c The chairman, Mr. Burns, remarked that it was obvious the Department would not allow the schools to be opened while fresh cases of the trouble were occurring. Many of the parents were very nervous about it, and it was quite possible that the schools would be closed for the. whole year. He would suggest that the Department be urged to allow the schools to be opened, but that the compulsory attendance clause of the Act be suspended, so that the wishes of nervous parents might be met.

Mr. Banks remarked that he was aware of one teacher in a country school who had already gone back to his school district, and vas visiting the scholars j and setting them work to keep them : profitably engaged, and especially re assist backward pupils. This example appealed to the members of the board as a specially good one, and the board decided to instruct the teachers of country schools to into touch with parents and pupils -with the object of keeping the scholars from losing , ground and of assisting backward pupils. It was agreed that this could not be done in the town schools. A discussion ensued on the Eubject of having pupils of the age of 14 to 17 years attending the secondary departments of district high schools assembled on March 16. It was, however, generally felt that the responsibility was too serious for the board to move, while the Health Department had made its arrangements under careful consideration. The board finally decided not to make auy representation to the Health Be-1 partment in the meantime, having been j assured that the board would be notified i by the Department immediately the lat- j ter considered the schools could* be safely i opened. ' j