SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 30 May 1930, Page 8

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

SOME SUGGESTIONS

BEGIN EACH DAY EARLIER?

Miss V. M. Gveig, headmistress of the Wellington Girls' College, replying yes-tei-day to an inquiry by the Board of College Governors regarding the change of school holidays as suggested by Sir Thomas Sidey, wrote that sh: considered it a most difficult task to furnish a report on the matter. In conversation with many principals she had gathered that the majority preferred to leave the holidays as they are. , "The main difficulties in the way of a change," said Miss Greig, "in my opinion, are six in number. Firstly, stabilising of Easter. Secondly, The traditional holidays at Christmas; and Now Year. Tradition dies hard in British countries, and unless tho whole, community accepted the proposed change aud made alterations in the holidays seasons, it seems useless for the schools to alter materially their summer holidays. ■ ■ "I feel that the bulk of the teachers would not favour the dividing, of • the long summer vacation into two sections, namely, a week, between Christmas and New Year and the balance of the vacation in February and.March. If . the conditions were as in England I should think the alteration of the summer vacation might be more popular. Thirdly if tho proposed alteration were liiade the boarding schools would probably have to meet tho cost of upkeep, which would be greater if more wet and cold weather came during the school term. As it is all those concerned with hostcts arc more than thankful when tho winter term is over. Fourthly, the school games, sports meetings, open air drill work, which are so beneficial for tho -hildren, should not all be thrown into th < wet. weather. Fifthly, the public examinations would all have to be reorganised to meet tho,proposed change. Sixthly, the working spirit of the school children is keener in fine weather. . ■. ' .V "" '" : '' The whole question seems to turn on daylight saving and fine weather. The advantage of daylight saving is very great, but could not this advantage be obtained by beginning school earlier in the morning (say, 8.15.a.m.) and closing at 2.30 p.m. " "If, the school year ended a little later, and the school reopened, say, in the middle of February, the September holiday could be adjusted, as also coiild the May vacation, then one could have a long summer vacation without alteration of Christmas. Another suggestion might be to work on till 31st December nncl'take only two days' holiday at Christinas, the vacation being Ist January to the end of Fobruary. This suggestion would probably be unpopular owing to the Christinas tradition." No suggestions were received from ■♦•lie other colleges, and the board decided to take no further action in the matter. ' -