SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 February 1922, Page 5

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

ARE THERE TOO MANY? COMMITTEEMEN’S DEBATE, The chief discussion at last evening’s meeting of the Grey School Committee concerned the question of school holidays, and a marked divergence of opinion was manifested, the remarks of some members being very outspoken. Air P. Aiackenzie (chairman) presided. A letter was read from the Greymouth Trades’ Picnic Committee, requesting that the school be granted a. holiday on Wednesday, February 22, on the occasion of the annual picnic. Mr F. Pullen stated that in his opinion the school had enough holidays. The Chairman said that if the children were not given a holiday it would mean that many of the parents would be unable to attend the picnic. Mr W. Blair moved that the holiday be granted. The motion was seconded by Air J. Tennent. Mr Pullen moved that the holiday be refused. If the request were granted, he said, it would mean the loss of two days. The children would not be fit for much work on the day after the picnic. They had just returned to school from six weeks 1 holiday. Mr T. Collins seconded the amendment. He thought that the children received too many holidays. I hey went to school only about even months in the year. Air J. Tennent: Did you ever go to school yourself. Air Collins? Continuing. Air Tennent stated that it would be inadvisable to refuse the holiday. The majority of people would take their children to the picnic in any case, and the school attendance would suffer: that would be avoided by granting the, -holiday. The Committee did not propose to hold a school picnic, and the children should be allowed to attend the trades outing. The business people often assisted the Committee, and they should return the compliment.

The Chairman was in favour of giving the holiday. Alost of the business people were not free to attend picnics held on Saturdays, and the trades’ picnic was their only chance of taking their children.

Mr J. Weaver said he was opposed to granting too many holidays, but 90 per cent of the children at the State School would be taken to the trades’ picnic by their parents. Therefore he was m favour of tile holiday being given. The ('hairman suggested that next year the business people be asked to hold tlieii picnic during the school holidays. Mr Pullen : You are absolutely spoiling the children by giving too many holidays. Mr Williams said that he did not like to see school time lost, but the business people had been very good to the Committee, and it was up to them to grant the request. Mr Tennent : The first people the Committen run to when anything is wanted are the business people. The amendment being a due t negative, the motion was put and carried on a show of hands.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY. A second letter was lead from the. St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Committee, stating that the children's events on the sports programme were open to all the primary schools of Westland, and asking that the Committee grant a hall holiday for the occasion. Air Collins moved that the request be granted. The Chairman said he was against granting the holiday. There was no comparison between the two requests. He could not support the St. Patrick s Day Committee’s request on account of the past actions of that section of the community. When the Grey School Committee asked the Catholic School authorities to cooperate in the King’s Birthday celebrations they had refused to do so. 'J hey had also refused to take part in the welcome to the Governor-General (Lord Jellicoe). If the Committee granted the holiday it would be. pampering disloyalty. Mr Collins: In that case I withdraw my motion. The Chairman pointed out that the Government had cut out St. Patrick s Day as a holiday. In any case, there, ■was a day set aside for the school sports in the district. Air Pullen said he did not see how the Committee could retuse one request alter they had granted the other. Air Williams asked if a part holiday could be given and the school closed at, say, 2.30 p.m. Air Tennent suggested that the matter be left in the. hands of the Rector. Air W. Blair said the Rector should nob be saddled with the responsibility. Personally, he did not see why the children should not be allowed to attend the sports. The Committee should not return evil for evil; nothing would be gained by such a course. “Two wrongs do not make a right,” he concluded. Members agreed that it would be unfair to leave the decision to the Rector. The Chairman stated that if he had his way there would be no holiday whatever. He moved that no half-holiday be granted. All- D. AlcGregor seconded the motimi. Air Tennent suggested that the Rector might be able to make some suitable arrangement. without affecting school work. As had beeen said, two wrongs did not make a right. If the Catholic Schools did not turn out on former occasions it was certainly very bad taste, but the Committee might show a certain amount of clemency. The Chairman : By pandering to them ! Air Tennent: I do not want to pander to anyone. The sports may be advantageous to the children. Air Williams said he felt that he must express his honest opinions in the matter. He had been on practically every deputation from the Committee to the Alarist Schools during the past ten or twelve years, and co-operation had regularly been refused. The excuses were very palpable at times. He did not wish to be vindictive over' the matter, although tin Committee’s requests had been refusei times without number. Personally h would be in favour of the school closing at 2.30 p.m. Perhaps the Committe would show better taste than the othe school if the request were granted. T

1 was British policy to endeavour to make friends out of enemies. Air Weaver moved as an amendment that the school close at 2.30 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day. The amendment was seconded »y All lfc Tennent and carried,.Messrs Alackcnzu e and McGregor dissenting. y , • —-