CLOSING OF SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 176, 22 April 1937, Page 8

CLOSING OF SCHOOLS

No Scripture Lessons in Broadcast Hour LESSONS IN THE HOME A review of the events leading up to the closing of the primary schools in ’ the Wellington Education Board’s dis- | trict was given at. the monthly meeting I of the board yesterday by the chairi man, Mr. W. V. Dyer, who paid a : tribute to the manner in which the 1 headmasters and the board’s staff (par- ■ ticularly the secretary) had met the crisis caused by the infantile paralysis epidemic. He expressed appreciation of the co-operation of the Press and the Broadcasting Service, to whom a motion of thanks was passed. A motion to include Scripture lessons in tlie broadcast hour was defeated. Schools were being closed at the rate of one a day, Mr. Dyer said, when on the advice of the health authorities it was decided to close all schools in the city of Wellington and suburbs. It was later decided to include all schools In the Hutt Valley district and later still all schools on the south side of tho Rkmutakas and up to and including Paraparautnu on the Manawatu line. Finally, it was decided to close all schools in the board’s district on this side of Cook Strait. “The closing of schools is to be regretted,” Mr. Dyer added, “but the welfare of tliG children is paramount and the action taken is considered to be in their best interests. lam sure members will join with me in sympathising with the sufferers and in expressing the hope that they will soon be restored to good health.” Correspondence Classes. In the course of a report on the introduction of correspondence classes, the secretary (Mr. W. I. Deavoll) stated:— “The initiation of the scheme has not been without its difficulties. However, those have been overcome, and reports show that the new system is working smoothly. Schools outside Wellington city are using the lessons, and it is the intention of the headmaster at Levin to follow them for hie pupils. “As secretary of the board I desire to pay tribute to the work of the headmasters. They have not spared themselves in their efforts to itiake for the success of the scheme, and it has been a great pleasure to me to come into close touch with them in this emergency. Extra work has been thrown on members of the office staff, but they have met this in the usual cheerful and helpful manner, which is characteristic of their service to the board.”

"I think,” said the chairman, “the board can fee] very proud indeed of the headmasters and the board’s officers, particularly Mr. Deavoll, for they met the situation which arose at short notice in a .magnificent way. The headmasters assemblcil to a man at the board’s office, and the senior inspector was also present. The scheme was fully gone into, small committees were set up to prepare lessons, and on the same evening the first assignment of work was in ‘The Dominion’ office and appeared in print the following morning along with general instructions for the guidance of children and parents. We have to thank the newspapers for their help and cooperation in publishing the lessons free

of charge. The Broadcasting Service aiso agreed to grant the use of Station 2YA for an hour in the morning on school daya. It is pleasing to report that parents are appreciating the position and are co-operating.” Mr. W. R. Nicol reported that similar courtesies had been extended in the Wairarapa.

Colonel T. W. McDonald: I think this board should place on record its appreciation of the generous action of the Press throughout the Wellington district in placing their columns at the disposal of the board for disseminating the lessons. It was a most magnanimous act on the part of the Press and radio authorities. Mr. L. J. McDonald referred to the active part taken by the chairman, who had been watching developments most carefully. A general motion of appreciation was carried by acclamation.

Colonel McDonald said he desired to add a word of praise for the board's secretary. Mr. Deavoll had worked long hours to make a success of the correspondence lessons. Mr. Deavoll said that while he regretted the need for the correspondence lessons it had been his duty and pleasure to assist. He explained the arrangements that had been made for sending the lessons backward and forward between pupil and teacher <on several occasions in the one envelope, thus saving the board considerable expense. Assistance for Orphanages. The position of children in church homes was discussed when a letter was read asking for teaching assistance for three orphanages in the board’s district. Mr. Deavoll said that as the children were in different standards, the difficulty of anyone supervising the home lessons of 30 or 40 children could be appreciated. The senior inspector (Mr. D. Macaskill) said that the health authorities might regard the sending of teachers as ,a dangerous precedent. It might be possible, how.» ever, to arrange for infant mistresses, in turn, to visit the orphanages, as their correcting of lessons did not take so long as the class teachers. The board viewed the request sympathetically and the ipatter was left in the hands of the senior inspector and the secretary to confer with the Education and Health Departments. Mr. Dyer said he was gratified to hear the remarks of members about the board’s staff, particularly in view of the hostile references to education boards made by Mr. T. H. McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton. The way the position had been handled was the best reply to any allegations of overlapping. Mr. A. Donald: Was any official intimation of the closing of the schools sent to headmasters? I know’ one or two country teachers who are sticklers for the regulations and they ring me up and say they have had no notification. Mr. Macaskill: They wouldn’t realise it was a matter of urgency. Mr. Dyer: When teachers are advised to close their schools through the National Broadeasting Service in an official message from the board no teacher should ignore the request. Scripture Lessons. Mr. Deavoll reported that he had been approached by two ministers of religion with a request that the last ten minutes of the school lessons broadcast each Wednesday should be set aside for the Nelson system of religious instruction. Several members objected.

Mr. Deavoll said he had inquired if the hour set aside for lessons .disturbed the ordinary devotional periocl, and he had been told that it did not.

The Broadcasting Service had provided for an hour of lessons, the chairman said, and he did not think the board had any right to alter that arrangement. The ministers should approach the service and arrange to have a children’s service fitted into the ordinary devotional period. In moving that the board approve of the ministers’ suggestion, Mr. Donald

said he was sorry the board seemed to be standing aloof from Scripture lessons in schools. The chairman said the board could certainly not be accused of standing aloof. Every facility had been given the Nelson system, but the request was outside the board’s jurisdiction. Mr. Donald’s motion was lost, but it was decided to suggest to the ministers to ask the Broad sting Service for a period during the ordinary devotional period.