IRREGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 30 March 1915, Page 4

IRREGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

CHILDREN AND HOP-PICKJNGJ-

ACTION BY EDUCATION BOAED'

In dealing with au application acotmtry bouselioldor for exemption f^ l ' his child from school during hop-picK*-ing, the Chairman-of, 'the Education Board at to-aay's meeting Bai<l. the position was that tne toWii schools last yeat had hoy-picking holidays, but this yeai" they i>tKi not 'been given. Sonie lO _j>ci cent of the ebildren had gone hop'-pick--ing, and their absence haid. not ■ beeiu notified .by the headmasters of the towa schools. Several children had gont> froiw country schools, and their absence had f)Wn notified by their teachers. The Board mnst make no distinction hi dealing with town and country children absenting themselves from school, and if the .country parents were to he prosecuted, then the town ones must be dealfc with in a similar manner. The Secretary reported, that several summonses had been issued against country householders for not sending their children to school, and these would come oil for hearing at the next sitting of the Motueka Magistrate's Court. .•Mr Goth&rd said hop-packing liolihad reached" as. far as where a few children had left the district to'come to 'Xelsbn; The Westport Comtnittee would on no account grant exemption to children to engage in hoppicking. He moved that the town schools ■teachers be instructed to send m a list of children absenting themselves from school. '' .ne motion was carried. While on .the subject of non-attend-ance, Mr Harris said there were_fi>-e< children of school age giving at the Port who for twelve months had never been to The°Cha.irfaan said' it was the duty of one. Committee to inquire into the m Mr r Harris replied the childrenhad never been on the " . The Secretary was mstmpted to make inquiries and Teport to the -next meeting of the Board.