O.B.H.S. CELEBRATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26852, 17 August 1948, Page 6

0.8.H.5. CELEBRATIONS

Sir,—The public of Dunedin is no doubt going to follow with interest the eightyfifth anniversary celebrations of the Otago Boys’ High School this month, 'and the excellent programme which has been arranged contains much of interest to expupils. It will be an interesting function, too, in the life of the present scholars. But surely in an affair of this kind the boys should have an option as to whether they participate or not. I am sorry to say this is not the case. I fully realise that it is unfortunate that the celebrations are placed in the middle of the school holidays, but this is no reason why the boys should be expected to give up their time to attend. Many of them are keen to take part in displays, and with the large number that has volunteered some good performances are assured. But there are other lads in the school who have obtained employment in factories during the vacation. They have been compelled to take time off their jobs to take part in a gymnastic display, and thus lose their pay for this day. I would like to know whether these boys can legally be compelled to attend as it is unfair to expect them to forfeit their pay merely to entertain others. I am just another person who wishes to see these celebrations add to the large list of successful functions held in Otago’s centennial year, but I do not see any chance of this when the boys are made to take part against their will. Certainly they will make the display impressive, but what use is this when they have already a sufficient number of boys to turn on a successful exhibition? —I am, etc., Observer.

[Boys were not being compelled to take part in the celebrations, said Mr E. J. Aim, rector of the Otago Boys’ *High School, when this letter was referred to him yesterday. Exemption would be immediately granted to any pupil upon receipt of a written request from his parents.—Ed. O.D.T.]