“THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN,”

Evening Star, Issue 20116, 5 March 1929, Page 11

“THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN,”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In reference lo the article, ‘ The Cry of the Cliiiclron,’ in tonight's ‘ Star,’ 1 am penning this to say that 1, with. 1 am Mire, many morn parents, heartily agree with “X. ’ Why the matter lias not been ventilated ere this, and why " X,” who is evidently a writer ol merit, does not make the case stronger, J do not know; but the sooner the evils ‘‘X” points out arc rectilied, the better for the health of our children. The amount ol home work the children ot our schools, both primary and secondary, have to do is preposterous, and it appears to me that the children teach themselves at homo with the aid of their parents (if able and willing), and our so-called touchers simply hear and question the pupils on what they are given to learn at borne. Here arc a few actual facts concerning the work done at home by one child. You will agree there is a case, to answer. A boy attending a secondary school has sometimes live different masters, each of whom gives a fiat, perhaps, he considers a lair amount of work to bo clone at home; hut, taken in conjunction with the tasks the others set, it means that this boy has to start “swot” about 6.30 and finishes (what ho cannot leave until the morning) at 10.30 or 11 o’clock. This, taken with the ordinary school work of five hours, constitutes more than a fair day’s work, and is really too much for a growing lad. Whv not give the children the weekends free, or let them off fairly lightly after a strenuous week like this? Evidently the teachers arc afraid the pupils may slip back by this spell of idleness, for the week-end lessons take anything from six to nine hours to prepare. This daily grind, with no time for recreation and the consequent curtailment of the hours which all children need I'm- sleep, can result only in a lb-mi brain and a physically impaired body, thus defeating the end the

teachers aim at. Hence, the reason of so many failures and the aversion in later life to study and the further pursuit of knowledge. Arc the primary schools falling into this method of “cram” also? I leap .so. and could quote many instances. Hoping “X” may carry on the good work lie has commenced, and that other parents will combine in an effort to remedy this defect in our educational system—l am, etc., March 4. Tired Parent.