RAISING SCHOOL AGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 182, 3 August 1932, Page 3

RAISING SCHOOL AGE.

A FLAW ITT THE ACT.

HEADMASTERS' DISCRETION.

The Auckland Education Board had before it this morning a letter from the Nelson Board taking exception to the following paragraph that appeared in the July number of the "Education Gazette": —"No child under six. years of age, who is not entitled to be on the roll, may attend a public school." The Nelson Board enclosed an opinion from its lawyers to the effect that it was not illegal to allow a child under six to attend school so long as its name was not entered on the roll. The Nelson Board contended that a child should be allowed to enter echool in the quarter during which it -would reach the age of eix, the idea being that it was better for the school and better for the pupil if the pupil started at the beginning of the quarter, rather than having children coming in at different dates during the quarter.

A letter from the Minister of Education asked the Auckland Board's cooperation in observing the spirit of the recent legislation, which raised the school age from five to six years, and the Minister contended, that even if the legal opinion quoted were correct the matter should be first regularised by legislation.

The Auckland Board, at a recent meeting, decided to leave it to the discretion of the headmaster whether lie admitted at the beginning of the quarter a pupil who would during that quarter attain the age of six years.

In answer to a question as to whether the fact of leaving the matter to the headmaster's discretion might not lead to children being admitted several months before reaching the age of six, the chairman, Mr. A. Burns, said it was distinctly laid down by the board that the admission referred to 'the quarter in which, the child would reach the age of six.

The 'board decided to 6upport the Nelson Board and to adhere to its previous decision, leaving the matter to the discretion of headmasters.