SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 15

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

CHANGE TO FEBRUARY. EDUCATION BOARD DISAPPROVES. Disapproval of a change in the dates of the annual school holidays was expressed at the meeting of the Otago Education Board yesterday when a letter was received from the Education Department asking for the board’s views on the matter of commencing the long summer holidays in February instead of about December 19. The Council of Education had discussed the matter and resolved that it be referred to each of the governing bodies and the Teachers’ Association. Mr W. M. Cooper expressed disapproval of any change. The present system, he said, had stood the test of time. Christmas and New Year were the recognised meeting times of all families. If the weather was more suitable in February the children reaped the advantage in going to school. He was sure that he was speaking for the whole of the country districts. The suggestion had been made that children could assist in harvesting operations in February, but of what use was a child in the harvest paddock? A child, at any rate, was entitled to a holiday, and the very fact that children might be made to work condemned the change. He moved that the board express its approval of the present dates. Mr G. Livingstone seconded the motion. He had heard many expressions of disapproval of the proposed change, he said. The chairman (Mr J. Wallace) said that the board some time ago had set up a committee to go into the matter. It

had obtained figures regarding temperature and rainfall. After reading them he stated that the board could safely toss up. He thought that it had better leave things as they were. Mr W. R. Brugh said that experience had shown that February was a much more suitable month than January. He did not believe in saying that what was good enough for their fathers and grand; fathers was good enough for them. If they saw an opportunity for progress they must grasp it. Experience of January in the last few years had been shocking. The change was worthy of consideration. He moved an amendment that the matter be deferred. Mr P. M'Kinlay seconded the amendment. Mr J. H. Wilkinson said that a change would cause some dislocation in business. The, amendment was lost, and the motion was carried by six votes to four.