Rector Criticises ‘Parental Play-Way’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30004, 13 December 1962, Page 20

Rector Criticises ‘Parental Play-Way’

The greatest single stimulus schools could gain would be to have a good deal less “parental play-way,” Mr M. A. Bull, rector of the Timaru Boys’ High School said at the annual prize-giving ceremony on Tuesday. Parents had a profound impact on the outlook of boys, he said.

Had parents ever asked themselves whether it was reasonable to ask “Johnny" to study? Mr Bull asked. If the father’s only concern out of working hours was to have a good time with his recreations, why should not the son follow this excellent example? Or the mother’s only interests might be light radio and bridge parties. “We allege education is so important that it has to be compulsory. Does the day-to-day life of the average grown-up do anything other than suggest this attitude is pure hypocrisy? “If mum likes gardening, does she keep herself up to the mark by taking in some periodical, or needing to get works of reference out of the library from time to time?

“If dad is keen on politics, does he inform himself on economics or political science, or on the nature and effectiveness of democracy?” Mr Bull said the behaviour of many parents showed they had never realised that education could mould an outlook on life far deeper, more lasting, and far more precious than any immediate examination success.

There were parents whose behaviour showed they had no sympathy whatever with the concept of the balanced individual, who developed neither as the swot caring nothing for his body’s welfare, nor the athlete who lived for his body alone, nor the “bonehead" who just vegetated in sound of radio commercials.

He was not hinting they should be joining Adult Edu-

cation groups, nor was h« implying they should take up Esperanto, or that without a university degree one should not be allowed to be a parent

Some parents had learnt that there was treasure in the world’s learning. Very modestly they had quarried that treasure throughout their lives. Their sons might be no cleverer than they, but complaints of laziness or slackness never appeared on their reports, Mr Bull said. He asked parents to consider as well the importance to both home and school of active adult interest to back up the enthusiasms and efforts of teenagers. “It is demanding of time, but it can bring a rich reward,” Mr Bull said.