SCHOOL HOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1934, Page 6

SCHOOL HOURS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —-The controversy over the attendance at school of five-year-olds seems to have died down, but beforo the matter is settled I would like to put forward a possible solution to the i various difficulties, namely, that these children be admitted to the schools daily for only two hours, instead of having to endure a full school day. It seems really wrong to coop these little ones up for such long hours, whereas there is no doubt much to be said for "those mothers who find it difficult to cojie with their activities all " day at home. ' i I have had personal experience of tliis -. method in tho United States, where I •had a child attending school, and found it most satisfactory. In the schools there the school day is gradually increased as follows: —Five-year-olds attend'from 10 a.m7 to 12 midday; sis-year-olds attend from 9 a.m. to 12 midday; seven-year-olds attend from 5.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and so on, up to the high school, where the attendance is from 8.30 to 2.30 p.m., with only half an hour,1 allowed for luncheon refreshment, which the children bring with them. As the payment of a "quarter" (about Is) each week provides a "daily half-pint of milk, there is no difficulty in supplying sufficient nourishment, and after school is over there is still I plenty of time, even in winter, for out-of-door recreation. With all our splendid progress in education there is undoubtedly still room for improvement, and it should be an advantage to learn from the experience of older countries.—l am, etc., : ■■'■.'-.. PROGRESSIVE.