HOME LESSONS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 131, 30 November 1926, Page 8

HOME LESSONS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I read with interest the remarks of the Minister of Education, the Jiou. R. A. Wright, to parents of children attending Roseneath School. In regard to the point of children leaving college after twelve months or under, I would like to draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the remedy lies in the abolition of homework. Is the Minister aware that three college masters set homework for the same night and nearly every night at that? Make college a pleasure, and not.a drudgery. If sufficient cannot be taught in the hours, then increase the hours or the staff, but let the hoy leave his work behind him when he leaves school. Don't break his spirit or his health with homework. As a parent of a family, I would like to voice my protest. My first boy, after attending college for twelve months, was taken away, for I'could see that his health was breaking down through overstudy night as well as day. My second boy, who has been at college seven months, and who gained a free place, and appears a smart boy, is going the same way. I shall take him away, too, for I would rather do that than allow the college authorities to ruin his health. It has been a great worry to me to come home at 5 o'clock to find my boy at his homework then, and he is there sometimes at 10 o'clock. There is no time for music; no time for a little home-talk; everyone in the houte dumb. It is too much for any brain, more especially the brain of a growing child. The system is wrong, and I venture to say that the sooner the education authorities look into the matter, the better for the health of the child and the longer will the children be kept at college.—l am, etc., ABOLITION.