SUMMER VACATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17964, 8 March 1930, Page 6

SUMMER VACATION.

FEBRUARY AND MARCH. CHANGE AT SCHOOLS MOOTED. LOCAL OPINION. Headmasters of various Hamilton schools Interviewed yesterday on the suggestion of Sir Thomas Sidey, Attorney-General,-that the long summer term be changed to February and March, white agreeing, on the whole, that the scheme was sound in theory, thought it would perhaps be the reverse In actual operation. It Is expected, however, that the subject will come up for full discussion at the monthly meeting of local headmasters on Tuesday.

“There is something to be said for the change,’’ said Mr B. Wilson, Principal of Hamilton High School. We have as a rule in the Auckland province more suitable holiday weather in February and March than in December and January. February, moreover, is usually the hottest month and afternoon school then is sometimes very trying to pupils. On the- other hand the two great festivals of the year—Christmas and New .Year —fall in December and January, necessitating a sch'ool break of ten days or a fortnight. Presumably this fortnight would have to be deducted from the regular six weeks’ summer vacation. It does not appear to me desirable to have a fortnight break round Christmas and New Year, to reassemble the schools again for three or four weeks and then take a vacation shortened to four weeks in February. The disadvantages of such procedure outweigh to 1 my mind the benefits the contemplated change confers.

The position is different in England, where the summer vacation falls in August and the short break for Christmas and New Year comes four months later. Winter Best for Study. Mr W. Fraser, Principal of tire Ham-' ilton Technical School, considered the ■idea sound in principle, February being undoubtedly the best month as far as weather was concerned and was the farming -month, but there were a number of difficulties in the way which would take time to consider. Idle main difficulty was the .breaking into the school term of a holiday which would have to be given around Christmas time. It had been found that the best-work of the year in schools was generally done in the winter' term, which was unbroken. No Hasty Judgment. The headmaster of the Whitlora Primary School, Mr F. W. Hare, stated that he was unable to give a considered opinion at the moment as it was too important a subject for hasty judgement. Christmas and New Year were the natural limes for holidays, and children in any case would go home at these times —school work would then require to he suspendedHis own experience was that in March pupils and teachers were able to work to much better advantage than during January. He could not imagine any .satisfactory work being done towards the end of December or in the beginning of January. Of course, added MiHare, the question of the harvesting period varied according to districts. February was harvesting month in the South Island, but was not of such importance in the Waikato.