Suggestion For Longer Week For School Study Opposed

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29324, 1 October 1960, Page 14

Suggestion For Longer Week For School Study Opposed

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 29. Most persons approached today were of the opinion that nothing could be accomplished by extending the school week to six days. This week Professor Harry Messel, head of the school of physics at Sydney University, told the Technical Education Association of New Zealand’s annual conference that it would be highly desirable to introduce a six-day school week in an effort to keep up with education in the Soviet Union.

Those interviewed today included businessmen, educationists and the general public. Most were of the opinion that Professor Messel had the “wrong idea." The professor of education at Victoria University, Professor C 1 L. Bailey, said he could not, in principle, agree with Professor Messel.

“A six-day school week may be possible in a totalitarian society, but you can’t have it in a free country.” he said. “New Zealand’s school hours are much the same as school hours anywhere in the world.”

The assistant Director of Education (Mr F. D. G. Aitken) said if children worked properly during a normal school week, there would be no need to work on a Saturday. “In a country area where children have to travel long distances to school they are tired after a day’s study, and. in my opinion, you couldn’t make any distinction between metropolitan and country schools.” he said. Mr W. H. Nankervis, a city businessman, believed it would be a “retrograde step” to make students go to school on Saturdays. He said pupils got enough education in a five-day week and anything more "would tire the mind.”

The principal of Wellington College (Mr H. A. Heron) was of the opinion that if school taught six days a week there would be little gain and much loss.

"Six-day education has its obvious weakness—can we deny children recreation?" A prominent lawyer. Dr. O. C. Mazengarb. said he thought a pupil should work to the maximum of his capacity. A child who could enjoy hard study would later get something out of the accomplishments of a higher education. But I think six days a week is asking too much."