SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Southland Times, Issue 21331, 27 February 1931, Page 8

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

SUGGESTED ALTERATION

DISAPPROVAL EXPRESSED.

Disapproval of the proposal that the usual Christmas school holidays should not commence until February in each year was voiced by the members of the Southland Technical College Board at its meeting last night. The discussion on the question arose when the following communication from the Director of Education was read: —

“At the meeting of the Council of Education held in June 1930, one of the subjects of discussion was the suggestion of Sir Thomas Sidey that consideration should be given to the question of the suitability of commencing the long summer holidays in February instead of about December 19. The council resolved that the matter should be referred for an expression of opinion to each of the governing bodies of the various educational institutions, and to the teachers’ associations, with the intention of considering the matter later in the light of the views that are expressed by these bodies. I have accordingly to ask you to be good enough to furnish the Department, at your convenience, with any remarks that you care to make upon the question.” Mr A. W. Jones deprecated any alteration of the present vacation. Christmas time, he said, was the one occasion in the year when all members of a family made every effort to gather together, and for that reason alone, he considered the usual holidays should remain as in the past. Mr W. C. Denham concurred in the view of Mr Jones, as did also Mr W. G. Tait, who emphasized that the greater section of the public invariably took their holidays at Christmas time, and if the children started theirs later in the year, such a course would not fit in at all with that followed by the parents. Mr W.-Carswell: Christmas time has always been associated with the joyous holiday period and I do not think we should break away from it.

That, from the point of view of the internal working of the school, the proposed alteration had nothing whatever to commend it was the opinion of the principal of the college (Mr C. A. Stewart), who emphasized that several pupils proved of invaluable help to their parents on the farms during the month of January. Mr W. Grieve: Then again we must bear in mind that, if the calendar is ultimately altered, Easter may be brought permanently nearer to Christmas, and that would upset the arrangements still further. Mr Tait: Has any member anything to say in favour of the proposal? Miss McLeod: I am against it. Mr A. J. Service: And I am against it. Mr D. Galbraith: And so am I.

The following resolution, moved by Mr Tait and seconded by Mr Jones was then unanimously carried: “That the Department be informed that, in the opinion of the board, it is desired that the custom heretofore of the long vacation coinciding with Christmas be adhered to.”