WELLINGTON SCHOOLS TO CLOSE EARLY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 114, 7 February 1935, Page 11

WELLINGTON SCHOOLS TO CLOSE EARLY

Education Board Decision MINISTER’S SUGGESTION ADOPTED

The Wellington Education Board has considered the proposals of the Minister of Education and has decided to approve of the closing of the schools during the afternoons of February. While the board thinks that it would, wherever possible, be preferable to commence school at 8.30 a.m. and to close at noon, it is leaving it to the school committees to decide upon the alternative proposal of starting at 9 a.m. and finishing.at 12.30 p.m. POSITION IN MANAWATU Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, February 0. Representatives of school committees, headmasters, and two members of the Wanganui Education Board were present at a meeting in the city last night, when it was decided that the schools should be opened from 8.30 a.m. till 12.30 p.m. this week. ' The question is to be reviewed next Monday by a .sub-committee consisting of the chairman of the ManawatuOroua School Committees’ Association, Mr. W. G. Black, the president of the Headmasters’ Association, Mr. E. Bary, and Mr. M. 11. Oram, a member of the Wanganui Education Board. MASTERTON DECISION Dominion Special Service. Masterton, February 6. The State primary schools in Masterton have all decided to adopt the suggestion of the Minister of Education, Hon. S. G. Smith, and will close in the afternoon during the current month. The Masterton Central and the Lansdowne schools will observe school hours of 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The committee of the W,est school, which also controls the Side school in Victoria Street, has decided, in order to avoid -as much as possible the heat of the day, to observe the alternative period from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon. The change of hours at these schools operated from to-day. No action is to be taken by the Wairarapa High School or the St. Matthew’s Collegiate School. For the remainder of the present week the Technical School will hold.school from 9 a.m. t0'12.30 p.m., and further action will be decided by the position as it arises day by day. Until further notice the hours at the Hudlow Preparatory School for Boys will be from 8.30 a ni. to 12.30 p.m., with time for a swim or a shower during the morning. AUCKLAND VIEW By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, February 6. The Education Board -has decided that the question of whether schools shall be closed in the afternoons in February should be left to the discretion of headmasters in consultation with the chairmen of committees: Members of the board agreed that conditions vary from day to day, and also from school to school, as some are better ventilated and in cooler positions than others. ’The suggestion was made that if a school closed in the afternoon swimming instruction should be given the pupils. / TO CLOSE AT DUNEDIN By Telegraph.—e Press Association. Dunedin, February 6. Instructions have been given to all schools in Dunedin to close after the morning lessons. • The chairman of the Education Board. Mr. Wallace, commenting on the Minister’s instruction, said it should have been sent out a week ago to .enable boards to give proper consideration to the matter. The first intimation ho had had was when'he read the papers. The decision in regard to country schools rested with the country members of the board.