SCEOOL HOLIDAYS.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 94, 11 September 1896, Page 6

SCEOOL HOLIDAYS.

A special meeting of the School Committees Association was held last night in the Willis-street State School, to discuss the question of school holidays, and to decide on the adoption of some system for obtaining uniformity. Mr. David Robertson presided. The Secretary of the Terrace School Committee (Mr. J. E. Evans) wrote that the circular sent out by the Association had arrived to late Dor consideration by the Terrace Committee at its last meeting ; but personally he was in agreement with the Association that Demonstration Day, the second day of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Show, and Arbor Day should be chosen as holidays. Mr. J. Mann moved that the three days mentioned should be accepted as holidays in addition to the regulation Board holidays. The Secretary, Mr. W. S. Cobham, was of opinion that the solution of the matter ■would have to come from the Education Board itself, and he moved as an amendment " That, seeing the amount of inconvenience and obstruction to school-work caused by Chairmen of Committees giving holidays, this Association respectfully recommends the Board of Education to notify all School Committees that no holiday shall be allowed to be given without the sanction of the Chairman of the Board." Mr. E. Thornton, Secretary of the Newtown School, thought it would be too much like putting all the responsibility on the shoulders of the Board. After a considerable amount of discussion the amendment was lost, and Mr. Mann's motion carried. Mr. Thornton moved that the Chairman and Mr. Cobham wait on the Thorndon School Committee, or whatever city School Committee it might be necessary to inter■view, and get their consent to the three holidaj's mentioned in Mr. Mann's motion. The motion was carried. Mr. Thornton moved that the Board be recommended to appoint a trutnt officer, as the police would not act in that capacity. The Chairman said the Clyde-quay Committee had already gone further, and asked the Board to erect a truant school to break in the uucontrollable ones. Mr. Thornton altered his motion to the effect that the Education Board be written to urging that it was desirable that a truant Bchool should be established in the cit}-, and a truant officer appointed. After a considerable amount of discussion the motion was put and carried. It was decided to hold the next meeting *n the last Thursday in October.