CO129-567-1 Education Department 8-6-1938 - 3-2-1939 — Page 82

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H.M. as follows:

"During the last period on Friday afternoon,

boys in classes 1 5 redivide, choosing (and as far as

possible first choice is allowed) one of the following

hobbies:- music, nature study, including some gardening,

fretwork, modelling, woodwork, art, Chinese (including

Chinese art), photography, geography, stamps, acting,

debates, commercial subjects, or extra English, especially

reading. It is hoped to extend the selection offered.

Each of these hobbies has a teacher in charge and some of

them follow up with work outside school hours.

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The above shows what can be attempted even without

specialist staff. Two advantages of the scheme are that it

encourages closer personal contact between staff and pupils,

and draws into the service of the school the enthusiasm and

interest of teachers in their own pet hobbies.

5. Even with existing staffs it appears that in some

schools, particularly the girls schools, more could be done

than is done at present to teach some form of Music, Art and

Crafts. We recommend that Heads of Schools both boys and girls

should be asked, when framing their time tables for the school

year commencing in September 1938, to allot weekly periods for

these subjects in as many classes as the existing staff can

competently cope with. If they cannot cope with all classes,

it is recommended that the lower classes be provided for in

the first instance. We also recommend that Heads of Boys'

schools should endeavour to initiate some such scheme as the

"Hobbies Hour" described in para. 4 above.

Sent

80569.1