Worcester daily spy., 1851-05-03
For the Spy.
CcbooI Hnrrre

The new Board of School Committee have made an
alteration of school hours in of the schools, which
will not be very satisfactory to the Of the people,
II Is TO have but session day, from to in sum
mer, and from 9 10 in winter. The great body OF the
children in schools are from the families OF labor
ing people, whose dinner hour is IL O'clock and they
want their children at home at that time, and not
hour or two afterwards. Worcester Palladium
Mr.. EDIroR;-Will you allow me, at the sugges-
tion of who are Interested in the natter to
rect the impression which the above paragraph is in.
tended to give. change of hours has been made in
the High School only, and that for the present term,
merely as AN experiment: Several reasons for the
change were offered and duly considered nor were the
objections to it passed by unnoticed 1t may serve,
perhaps to satisfy the minds of most people, to know
that the measure was adopted by very full Vote
Still, as the change is very considerable departure
from previous usages, may be amiss to name one
or two leading considerations.
As things have been heretofore, scholars from the
OM districts, and girls from the remote portions of the
centre district, who live great distance to ad.
init OF their going home to dinner have been compelled
to remain in the school house FIVE hours in order to Sc
cure three hours more of schooling That such an ar
rangement must bear hard upon this portion of the scho
ars, and that the change made will greatly relieve them
is sufficiently apparent.
Again, it was hoped that this change in hours would
tend keep the school together BETTER till the close
the summer term. Parents have been so much in the
habit, from considerations of health, of taking their
children of school by the middle or last of june as
seriously to interfere with the progress Of the classes
But by allowing the scholars to complete the abors Of
the day before the heat becomes oppressive and by
ieving them from the necessity of returning school
at an hour unsuitable for exercise, is hoped that
the necessity for removing them from school may in
most cases, be obviated.
principal objection to the change, as suggested by
the article in the Palladium, will be found in the incon.
venience to which may subject such as dine at 12
will be recoeced, however, that in these very fami-
lies, children Of the ages found the High School are
needed more less at home and in fact are often de-
tanned from school because they are needed to assist
their parents Where such The case it is believed
that parents will be than compensated for the in
convenience to which they subjected, by the addi.
tona time secured them for their childrens services
Besldes for years past, least the forenoon
sion of the school has actually closed at such an hour
occasion this very interference and yet SO far as
known, complaint has ever been made. But what
may be regarded still conclusive on this point
the Board had before them the time of acting on the
question of change, petition from the scholars accom-
panied by the following statement from the Principal.
'The scholars told to sign the petition with
out the consent of their parents previously obtained
On these conditions all the scholars have signed it but
nine or ten. OF these, five desired BY their pa
rents not to sign it, the others presumed to be IA
vorabe to the change, but have been in school dur
ing the time the petition has been circulated"
This explanation, it is hoped, may serve to obvate
any wrong Impressions, which have or may arise with
regard to the action of the School Board For this
purpose only have submitted it, H.