CHILDREN'S HOMEWORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 227, 25 September 1930, Page 9

CHILDREN'S HOMEWORK.

HALF-HOUR SUGGESTED

SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S VIEWS

SUCCESS OF MOUNT EDEN SCHEME.

A recommendation that each day's homework for primary school children should be restricted to half an hour's duration was carried at the quarterly meeting of the Primary School Committee's Association yesterday.

The recommendation was made by the Newton School Committee. Speaking in support, Mr. S. E. Chappell said that four years ago homework was abolished in tho Mount Eden school, and the experiment was such a success that it would in all probability become a permanency. After careful inquiry into the effects of tho change, teach ere had said that the standard of work had definitely improved. The children had progressed quicker than in previous years, and their

general brightness ]iad improved. A vote by parents showed t>o per cent in favour of no homework, many parents testifying to the improvement that had been noticed in the health and mental alertness of the children.' A kind of preparation, taking the place of homework, was clone ■ during school hours in preparation for the next day's work. Mr. F. Bennett said half an hour was a reasonable suggestion and the motion was on the right lines. . Approval was also expressed by Mrs. N. S. Benfcll. She said a child often, began with the knowledge that he or she had been unable to do the last, evening's work thoroughly. The mental effect of this was bad, for the child might easily lose heart or become rebellious against, the necessary discipline of school.