SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 8

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

TWO BROKEN WEEKS.

EDUCATION BOARD'S ATTITUDE,

HAPPY MEDIUM SOUGHT

The fact that the Christmas six weeks' holiday period for the primary schools will commence when the schools break up on Tuesday afternoon December 20 next, to resume on Wednesday, February 1 in the New Year, is being keenly anticipated by the teachers and the children, although soue of the former incline strongly to the opinion that it would have been much more satisfactory were the vacation arranged that it should begin at the conclusion of a school week, with the resumption of the school work on a Monday morning. One teacher stated to-day that by the present arrangement it will cut out two week-ends which could be used by thc teachers and children travelling. It was believed that many children would stay away from school on the Monday! and Tuesday before breaking up, that the attendances would suffer, and as a result staffing would be affected, as that was based on average attendance. The teacher expressed the opinion that as one alternative it would have been better to have carried on to Friday, December 23, and for the six weeks' period of holidays to date from then. In connection with the resumption of school work next year he thought that the resumption mid-week date as fixed was most unsuitable, and it was probable that some of the children would not put in an appearance until the beginning of the following week.

Concern wa6 expressed by Mr. M. H. Moon, president of the Auckland branch of the Teachers' Institute, who said that there would probably be decreased attendances in the two mid-weeks periods the schools were open, and there was the possibility of teachers suffering in that respect, seeing that staffing was on average attendance.

"It is a very difficult matter to please everybody," said the chairman of the Auckland Education Board (Mr. A. Burns), when the subject was referred to him. The chairman added that as far as back-blocks schools were concerned, the breaking-up in the middle of the week for the holidays and resumption during the middle of a week would be considered an advantage. During the first few days of a new year there was the work of reorganisation of classes, and the following week they would be properly into their stride. Personally he considered that parents would be keen to see their children back at school after the holidays. He considered that the date fixed for breaking up was also suitable, as it would enable country teachers to get into Auckland before the holidays. It was very difficult to make a decision that would suit everybody, but the board had to take into consideration, not only teachers in the city and near at hand, but also those who were located in remote districts. The Auckland Education Board had to consider the needs of 760 schools and their staffs, and had done its best to strike a happy medium.