HOMEWORK IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 94, 21 April 1924, Page 3

HOMEWORK IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor.) I Sir, —Once more I say "Buck up,' boys." Do not let people like "Less i Homework" discourage us. After all, J it is for only five nights in the week that we have homework to do. I, fortunately, get home before 4.45, but as regards those who do not get home until later in the afternoon, it is possible in nine cases out of ten for those boys to do a considerable amount of their homework en route, as most of them travel either by boat or by train. Then there is another point—manliness. Is the manly boy the one who is always grousing about the amount of his homework? The mother wh/> encourages her boy to do his fair "whack," whether it be homework or any other kind of work, is in my opinion making the manly boy. Also, my health is perfect. I eat well, sleep well, and play well, in spite of my I two and a half hours' swat. I have | never been absent from school on account of illness, and I never lose sight of the fact that for at least twelve weeks in the year we have absolutely no homework to do. —I am, etc.. SIXTH FORM BOY. <To the Editor.) Sir, —I am quite satisfied that had those who cry "less homework," had to ;it for any examination before they left school their cry would be "even more." Had I had a. little extra homework last year perhaps I might have passed matriculation. However, I will see this year that ray master -gives mc my full share. The majority of us realise that the more work we do at home, the more we are able to do at school. Then, too, we do not have the same amount of study every night. Some nights are easier than others, on account of the subjects taken on the following day. To make every night a fairly easy one, we are able to do to-night—an easy night—what we might have had to do to-morrow night—a heavy night. "Less Homework" speaks of it being necessary to devote at least 21 hours each night to preparation. This means that for each hour in the day we spend only one half-hour in preparation. This length of time, I think, he will realise to be very little if we are to make the best of our hours at school. I find that if I get away from school at 3.30 I can have an hour at cricket, tennis, or football, be home at 5 p.m., begin my homework at 6 p.m. and be completely finished every night at 8 p.m. This is, I think, easy enough for any boy who may, if he wishes, rise at 6 a.m., sperid a short time at the piano or have a spin on the bike before he goes to school.— j I am, etc., QUITE SATISFIED, j (To the EflUor.) Sir, —I would like to say a few words re homework. If some of these mothers and fathers would only encourage their boys and girls to learn all they can while they are young to make it easier for them in after years, instead of pampering and making milk-sops of them, the country would be better ofLj If these | boys and gtrl3 are too darned lazy to ' do homo work, what are they going to j do of an evening?— Answer: "Picture! shows." one of the worst things for our growing boys and girls. I mean of a certain kind., I hope our present head master, Mr. J. Drummond, will continue to give them homework, as I am sure he knows what is best for the boys.— ■ I am, etc., MOTHER OF THREE, j ,To the Editor.) Sir, —While not wishing to say for or against the amount of homework given, I think that "F. 8." is receiving | his education under more favourable! conditions than some boys. I have a j boy attending a secondary school. He I walks four miles each way, half of the distance a, rough bush track, which in wet weather is simply a bog, and is also flooded with high tides. He carries a heavy canvas coat, as well as his bag of books, milks one cow before leaving, and also on his return from school, getting home about five-thirty, when he has to change clothes. Four days out of five in winter, after his meal, he gets \ to his homework, and when finished j he looks pretty tired and ready for j bed, to rise at five-thirty next morning.! I may add that he has only missed two half days in two years. "Six F. 8.," perhaps has a mile to walk on a good footpath, or takes a car. If he were to change places with some of the country boys he would very likely not be so enthusiastic.—l am, etc., OMEGA. •