asked the Minister for Education if he has received memorials from citizens of Dublin requesting an alteration of the present school hours, which now involve a visit to the schools four times per day by the parents to accompany their children under eight years of age to and from the school for safety reasons, and, if so, if he will state if it is proposed to meet the request for the shorter day.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - City School Hours.
Mr. Byrne
I have received two such memorials recently. The minimum period of attendance at school for secular instruction is four hours per day but in the case of children enrolled in infants' classes or in first standard— generally children up to the age of eight years—this period may be reduced to three hours. These periods are not unduly long when regard is had to the breaks allowed at the end of each hour of instruction and to the vacation arrangements for these schools. I do not, therefore, propose to make any alteration in the minimum periods of attendance.
Subject to these requirements, the arrangement of the time-tables in national schools is a matter for the managers and it is open to the manager of a school to arrange the time-table so that the school day shall consist of one meeting with an interval for recreation of half an hour or longer, but not as a rule exceeding one hour; or he may arrange to have a school day of two meetings with an interval of more than an hour between the meetings.
I am aware that many parents prefer the dual-day arrangement as it affords the children an opportunity of having a hot mid-day meal at home but that others favour the one-meeting school day with a short interval for recreation. In these circumstances, it would obviously not be possible to devise any arrangement which would be acceptable to all concerned.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that memorials have been presented to his Department requesting that, in the case of smaller children, mothers should not have to go to the schools four times a day, especially during wet weather? There was one day last week on which the children were brought home at 12.30. They were supposed to go back at 2 o'clock, but they were drenched by the time they got home and they had to be put to bed. Having regard to these circumstances, could the Minister not arrange that the school day should consist of one meeting, say from 9.30 to 12.30 or 1 o'clock, with half an hour's break for young children? Many schools are doing that with great satisfaction at the moment. I think the House will agree that it is most unreasonable to expect housewives to go backwards and forwards to school four times a day with their children.
May I say that it is mainly a matter for the managers of schools to arrange the school day? My own experience inclines me to the belief that one meeting is the better arrangement. Nevertheless, there are differences of opinion. For instance, the City Medical Officer of Health reported for the year 1949: "The longer mid-day interval, permitting teachers and children to go home to dinner, was introduced because of wartime restrictions. Yet it is one of the greatest measures adopted for improving the nation's health." That is another point of view. My own view is different, but it is entirely a matter for the manager.
Mr. Byrne
What would the Minister recommend?
I should not like to recommend anything.