HOME LESSONS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 72, 18 December 1926, Page 11

HOME LESSONS

Sir.—l have read with interest in your columns the remarks of the Hon. R. A. Wright Minjstor of lEduMtion, a.t the meeting of the committee set up to consider the school curriculum. The question of home lessons lias been touched on, and is one that should be seriously 1 considered. , The aim of the teacher should be to develop the reasoning power of his pupils, to create an interest in and fos- i ter a love for school work, but unfortunately there are still teachers who, ' with the best of intentions, still adhere to the old cram system by giving every nieht for home lessons long lists of difficult words Tn addition to the spelling, verses of poetry of little value are sometimes set to be memorised, while two or three sums may be given on another occasion, hut always the in- ■ evitable spelling. Eight to ten words may be within reason, but where 20 to 30 words are set, many of which do not conj“ within a child’s vocabulary, n child surely is unduly taxed. .A child’s mental powers are exercised for five hours on each _ school day, so j why. further tax him with difficult lessons? As a result of home preparation ' he sets out for school next day thorough- ; 1v jaded and quite unfit for his new •lav’s duties. The abolition of home lessons has been ' tried with marked success by a headmaster in NeLon. The health of our children should be onr first consideration. nnd if home lessons conduce to over-pressure let us dispense with them, or at least curtail them. We. ns parents do not wish to dictate to our teachers, whose honesty of purpose we dn. not onestion. Wherein lies the remedy? Thanking yon for your valued space.—T am. etc.. A MOTHER. Wairarapa. December 14. 1926.