THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1949 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4104, 23 February 1949, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1949 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

If the Manawatu farmers have a case in asking that school holidays be changed so they can take their children with them on vacations during the off-seaaon, what of the thousands of townspeople whose annual leave does not coincide with the long school closure ? It would be a hopeless task trying to please all parents. Indeed, for many of them school holidays are a subject of growing concern for a very different reason. They are more worried about the length of them than the dates. In recent years considerable changes have been made in the school syllabus, both primary and secondary, but more particularly the primary. It has been expanded and brightened, so much so that it has earned, perhaps unjustly, the term “playway.” Like many generalities, that is far from accurate. But it is a fact that teachers are expected to cover more ground in less time. Does the result justify the effort? Does the effort cost the pupils and the teachers so much physically and mentally that something like 12 weeks in the year’s 52 are required for recuperation? It might be argued that the capacity of the average?' child at school is well defined by experience, and to try to extend it would be as senseless as overtaxing a machine , and a danger to the child’s health. The child cannot stand prolonged spells of concentration. He is certainly being spared a good deal by the trend away from examinations.' Because of improved teaching methods he may be assimilating more knowledge without extra effort. Then all is well? Is it the teacher who takes so much strain that 12 weeks’ rest is needed? No other vocation is so generous. If teacher and pupil are asked to do more, at least they have more with which to do it. Modern transport, for one thing, is a time ■ and toil saver compared with 20 years ago. Social changes have given most parents two days out of seven with their children — a long week-end, thanks to the five-day week. Should this not be considered when the syllabus is being set? If a tight school year pinches the expanded syllabus, why not lengthen the year?