EDUCATION PROBLEM

Evening Star, Issue 21036, 25 February 1932, Page 2

EDUCATION PROBLEM

SACRIFICES OF PARENTS | j EXPERIENCE 1H SYDNEY j EFFECT OF DEPRESSION An interesting aspect of the existing economic position in Sydney is the effect of it upon Great Public School enrolments from the standpoint of any tendency to keep boys at school because of. their inability to find commercial or other openings at an age when, under happier conditions, they would be entering life’s battle; and conversely,from the standpoint of the inability cf parents to continue their boys’ higher schooling because of the need for tha exercise of economy.

The experience of not a few of the Great Public Schools removes any impression that may exist that only tha ; wage earners, as distinct from the busi- ■ ness and professional classes of the com- , inunity, have had to attune themselves\ to the exigencies of existing financial j circumstances (says the Sydney ‘ Morn- I ing Herald ’). One of the Great Pup- ] lie Schools—popularly but erroneously •• regarded as the exclusive preserve of the boys of parents whose brows are i never furrowed by financial problems— ' has noted a far greater tendency than ordinarily to transfer boys from it to e the less expensive high schools, rather than abandon their schooling. Formerly : ■ in the comparatively rare cases in which ;, boys were thus transferred, parents', were diffident about confessing, as a, reason for this course, the need for, economy. Nowadays, when no one is ashamed of being poor, or of having less of the world’s goods than formerly, parents are frankly admitting their inability to give their sons the same schooling as formerly. This effect of the times, while it has not been generally observed among day boys, has been pronounced in some cases among boarders, especially those from country centres. “ POSITIVE TRAGEDY-”

“The outlook for boys who would ordinarily bo seeking careers,” said the head master of one of the Great Public Schools, “is more than a problem. It is a positive tragedy. People, comparatively small means, sensible of their responsibilities to their children,have made extraordinary sacrifices to keep them at school, and afford them, the best possible chance in life, and are „ still making those sacrifices. Some most promising boys, however, have had to leave our school because of the in-’ ability of their parents to keep them on. The outlook appears a little brighter than it was last year, but we are not out of the wood by any means.” j Generally speaking, the experience of the Great Public Schools is' that par- , ents, even at a sacrifice, in many cases are not interfering with their boys’ higher education. Some parents are cut* ting down their education bills by making their sons day boys instead of boarders. , This is a definite sign’ of economy among many parents who have previously entered their boys as boarders, not from the standpoint of accessibility or convenience, but because they feel that that course offers certain advantages in the corporate life and general discipline and environment of a great public school, which are perhaps not so marked, when a boy merely conies and goes within the prescribed school hours. " , ; v*. 1 “We are not getting quite so many boarders, especially from the country.”said another head master. “ This is the most noticeable effect of the diffi- . cult times. No one, however, is remaining at school simply because he cannot find something to do.” This view of the position is fairly general. The fact that there are fewer boarders, especially from the country, appears to ha the chief feature of existing enrolments in some of the girls’ colleges. ESCAPING MENTAL ATROPHY. The tendency to keen boys and girlJ at school bocausg, of their inability to become wage earners is pronounced in the State public schools, and the authorities are encouraging them to remain there. To quote the Director of Education (Mr G. R. Thomas): “ Wo recognise that it is much. better for a boy to remain at school than to ho leading an aimless life in comparative idleness, and a life which, possibly, is devoid of ambitions.” This policy has served to increase enrolments in the public schools by many thousands, although it has made very acute the problem of accommodation, and has necessitated the addition of annexes to some of the leading high schools. In not a few cases scholars attending the high schools who ordinarily would have completed their schooling have sat for their examinations a second time simply to escape the mental atrophy of idleness.