SUMMER VACATION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 196, 16 May 1930, Page 8

SUMMER VACATION

A CHANGE IN DATES TEACHERS’ SUPPORT Alteration in the dates of summer vacations for schools along the lines suggested by Sir Thomas Sidey received the support of the technical school teachers at their conference yesterday. A re“it “ sent forward by the Dunedin branch as follows: “That the New Zealand Technical School Teachers' Association support Sir Thomas Sidey’s suggestionthat the question of altering the dates of the summer vacation be considered. It was carried on a division by ~6 votes to 23. i it,A delegate said that he opposed the remit for various reasons. In the first place, matriculation students would be greatly, handicapped, as their examination would have to take place before the Christmas break. He thought that Sir Thomas Sidey’s suggestion had been brought forward as the result of one or two exceptional seasons, and that there was no reason to suppose that the weather would be consistently fine in the same month or months every year. It would interfere, too, with boys who went shearing or harvesting—often an important matter for them. January might be all right for subAntarctic plants like Dunedin and the southern parts of New Zealand, but it was certainly unsuitable for inland regions of the North Island and the Auckland district, said another delegate, who was in support of the proposal. lu the North Island it was very difficult to teach in February, and iu some eases the authorities had even closed schools temporarily because satisfactory work could not be done. ■ “It seems that there are some very conservative members in the conlcroute, said Miss M. B. Robertson, of Christchurch. “The proposal is meeting with something like the same opposition n» the first Daylight Saving Bill.” She went On to speak in support of the proposed changes, and dwelt at some length with its effect on the health of I lie children and the manner in which objections which had been raised might be overcome. She was certainly in favour of it front start to finish. The motion was carried as stated above,