ANZAC DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 9

ANZAC DAY

HOLY DAY OR VHQLIDAY?

The observance of Anzae Day in. the schools came up for consideration at today's meeting of tho AVellington Education Board when it was. moved that the secretary be empowered to send out the usual circular detailing the proper observance.

' Mr.' J. J.-Clark' said that in his opinion the time had come when the whole question of observance should lie recommended, whether tho service should be held on the actual day or on the dav prior.. "In a certain suburban school," he said, "the day was not observed with any degree of seriousness, and proceedings were a travesty of what they ought to be. The headmaster, one teacher, and about half-a----dozen children were present last year when a returned 'soldier arrived to address the scholars, and this in a schol with a roll of almost 500." If was time, he suggested, to discontinue the services at the schools and to inculcate the lessons of Anzae Day at the school on the previous day. "It should be a serious offence for a teacher not' to attend the Anzae Day services," said'Mr. W. H. Jackson. It should be the most holy day of the year to all Christians next to Good Friday."

Anzae Day observances would lose all their importance if the. day was changed, remarked Colonel '" 'T. W. McDonald. There was obviously something very wrong with the organisation ot the school mentioned by Mr. Clark i the facts were as he had stated.' . . Theday is a holy day and i.ot a holiday," said the chairman. Mr. T. iorsyth. Teachers had no right to regard the day as a holiday and go away, a thing which they were much inclined to do, especially if Auzac Uay fell on a Friday or a Monday.' The board's instructions were plain and to tho effect that teachers should be present with their classes. The discussion closed after tho secretary had read the circular which will be sent out to all schools intimating how the day should be observed.