SCHOOL TERMS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 9

SCHOOL TERMS

Remits On Changes

Four remits on beginning and ending dates of school terms will be presented at the national conference of the Dominion Federation of School Committees’ Associations. The Auckland association will introduce a remit to have the dates of the beginning and end of each school term changed to whatever extent might be necessary to have the first and second terms start at least a week later than at present. One reason given is that February is the hottest month of the year in New Zealand and that there are advantages in devoting more of it to holidays instead of schooltime.

Another reason is that in some dairy farming districts a later date for the May holidays would make an annual family holiday more feasible. The Otago association has submitted a remit that the terms and holidays regulations be amended so that schools may open on the first week-day of February. The Mid-Canterbury association says that the last days of the third term and the first days of the first term are not important or strenuous and are merely spent in breaking-up or in settling down.

Spreading the holiday demand from peak periods and enabling the children of farming areas to take holidays at a time more suitable to their families, is the object of a remit submitted by the Manawatu-Oroua association. This association wants the Minister of Education to conduct a survey of opinion on the subject.