DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6736, 18 September 1883, Page 3

DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

An ordinary meeting of the Committee was held last evening. The following members were present: Messrs M. W. Green, M.H.R. (chairman), Bolt, Campbell, Isaac, Nathan, Itobin, and T>. M. Stuart. EXTENSION OF CHILDREN'S DINNER-HOUB.

Replies were received from tho boad > teachers to the circular. sent by the Committee, requesting their opinion of the proposal to. extend the time for the school children's dinner from an hour to an hour and a-half, or an hour and a-quarter. With the exception of Messrs Park and M'Nicoll, all the head teachers were opposed to the proposal. Mr Isaac moved—"That permission be granted to Messrs 'Park and M'Nicol to extend the dinner-time from an hour to an hour and a-half." He did not wish to interfere with the' head teachers in carrying out tho school work, but his own opinion was that an extra half-hour would ba better for the children's: health, and better for tho management of the .school. When it was seen how the experiment worked in the two schools named, perhaps the other teachers would fall in with the arrangement. " " • Mr Stuart seconded the motion. He thought there should be a longer time given than an hour. Perhaps an hour and a-quarter would do. Several parents had spoken to him on the subject, and had expressed a hope that the Committee would see their way to.grant the request. He regretted very much that the other head teachers did not see their way to 4igreo to the extension. . Mr lUaac agreed to alter the proposed extension to an hour and a-quarter, instead of an hour and a-half. • ■ Mr Natiian would vote for the resolution as an experiment, to see if it would answer in the two schools. Ho was doubtful whether it would answer.

Mr Bolt was not in favour of the resolution, and never had been. For children who lived at a moderate distance from school an hour was quite sufficient, and children who did not live within a moderate distance, generally took . their dinners with them. He did not approve of breaking irto the ordinary course of school work, and thought the hours should ""be uniform in all their schools. ■Mr Campbell endorsed many of the remarks made by Mr Bolt. If they granted the request in this case, there was nothing to prevent other parents calling on the Committee to extend the dinner-time to two hours-to suit their convenience. The Committee should consult the feelings of the majority, and he thought the great majority Of pupils and parents found the hour at present given most suitable. He would thereforo oppose the resolution. • '

■Mtßobis had no strong views one way or the other. He had been in favour of the proposed extension; but the clear way in which Mr Manoney, one of the head teachers, put the question, disposed of the matter at once. He would vote against the motion. ' Tho Chaibman judged from the remarks made that he would be under the necessity of giving his casting vote, and thereforo he would simply say that personally his own judgment was againßt the extension, but he thought there was not sufficient reason to withhold from the head teachers the liberty of extending the time if they thought it desirable. He suggested that, it should be left optional with Messrs Park and M'NicoH to extend the dinnertime. When they found that the other head teachers were not going to extend the time, they might not care to make the alteration. Mr Isaac agreed to put the motion in the following form : " That Messrs M'Nicoll and Park be at liberty to extend the time for dinner to one hour and a-quarter if they think, it desirable." The following was the result of the voting :— Ayes (3): Messrs Isaac, Nathan, and Stuart. Noes (3): Messrs Bolt, Campbell, and Kobin. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the motion, which was therefore carried. FISASCIAL EO3ITIOX OP THE COMMITTEE. The Chaibhan asked if the Committee did not think something should ba done to get money for works which were urgently necessary. The playgrounds at two of the schools were in a very bad state in wet weather, and ought to'be looked after at once. Mr Robin would not be inclined to do an3'thing towards getting money ' outside. He believed tho Education Board were going to cut them up like firewood, and the Committee should wait to see what was to be done to them.

Mr Nathan did not think they Bhould do anything until they heard what tha Board said'to their balance-sheet.

After Borne conversation" on tho subject, it was resolved to take no steps in the matter. The Committee passed Some small accounts, and adjourned. :