School Holidays.

Otago Witness, Issue 1754, 4 July 1885, Page 15

School Holidays.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I notice in your issue of June 20 a letter signed " Economy," in which the writer makes a grievance of teachers' holidays. " Economy " rather invidiously looks at only one side of the question. He seems to suppose that school holidays are only granted for the benefit of the teachers. School committees never think of considering the interests of the children ! Surely " Economy must have been disappointed at some school committee election when he entertains such uncharitable opinions of the motives which actuate school committees in granting holidays. Let me remind him that holidays are granted for the sake of ,the children, the teacher's interest in obtaining them being a secondary consideration. " Economy" professes to admire the remarks made by your contributor, Mr F. A. Joseph, upon the education system. I therefore suppose " Economy ', finds his opinions supported by Mr F, A. Joseph. Now, I notice this latter gentleman thinks that we are making our children do too much at school — that we are over-pressing them. How does this fear of overpressure agree with " Economy's" complaint of too many holidays? I might argue with "Economy" that if we curtail teachers' holidays, we may impair their efficiency, but I will refrain from occupying what might be too much of your valuable space. I have tried to combat "Economy's" notions before in other people, and found my time wasted. These people never could be made to acknowledge there was hard work in anything but physical exertion, and were therefore always afflicted by tho well-paid leisure apparently enjoyed by those who practise a profession entailing more exertion of the mind than of the body. They therefore don't see any need for recreation in persons whose whole occupation to them seems one perpetual recreation. We may excuse such people when wp reflect that it is probably by the help' of self-observation they have come to the conclusion that mind is too small and too unimportant a part of the human organism to cause any great wear and tear by its exercise. — I am, &c, Ahecedariax. June 21. [Arrived too late for last issue. — Ed.]