Parents of students at a prestigious private boys’ school claim a major victory after a proposal to end the school day at 1:50 p.m. one day a week in 2025 was abandoned.
The change to class times was proposed by Scott Marsh, principal of the elite Scotch College in Hawthorn, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
In a petition on Change.org, Father David Chu said the early end was to accommodate “on-the-job staff training” at the $40,000-a-year college.
“This change would negatively impact students, parents and caregivers,” he wrote.
‘Children will now be forced to adopt new interests in a limited range of hobby subjects, participate in extracurricular activities or leave school prematurely.
The change to class times was proposed by Scott Marsh, principal of the elite Scotch College (pictured) in Hawthorn, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
‘In addition, there will be additional pressure on parents and carers to adjust their work commitments to accommodate a 1.50pm pick-up time for students who do not wish to pursue a new subject as a hobby.
“For those parents and caregivers with well-established work schedules, managing the logistics of these changes could be challenging.”
The petition gained more than 650 signatures in just three days.
“As another fellow signer aptly described, this is a shockingly arrogant move,” one angry parent commented on the petition.
‘Our children deserve the education we pay for. Do reduced class hours mean reduced fees? Probably not!’ wrote one mother.
“Cutting school hours by four periods each week undermines the significant $40,000 annual tuition we pay and compromises the quality of education we expect and deserve,” one fed-up parent shared.
Pictured is Scott Marsh, principal of the $40,000-a-year Scotch College in Hawthorn, Melbourne.
In an update on Thursday, Dr. Chu announced that Scotch College would maintain the traditional school schedule in 2025 as a result of community pressure.
“This result is directly attributed to the collective effort of our community, which gathered more than 650 signatures in just three days,” he wrote.
‘I am deeply grateful to each of you for your invaluable support and dedication. Your willingness to uphold our school’s tradition has truly made a difference.
“I want to thank the principal and school administration for considering the voices within our community and making a decision that supports the best interests of the students.”