PARENTS’ AFTERNOON.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1444, 24 July 1933, Page 4

PARENTS’ AFTERNOON.

AT MATAMATA SCHOOL.

Children Seen at Work. ' -••••' In appreciation of the'' generous and hearty manner in which parents of the town and district have always supported functions connected with the Matamata Primary School and the Matamata High School, the staffs of these institutions invited all parents and friends of the children to a “ parents’ afternoon,” when visitors would be free to walk through the schools, enter the rooms and see the children at work. Many Paints Visit Schools. That the innovation was thoroughly justified was shown by the manner in which the parents attended, there being some 150 at the Primary School, while nearer 200 were present at the High School a week later. When the first feeling of shyness at again being at school had worn off, the visitors eagerly

explored the buildings, passing with great interest from room to room where children and teachers were busily at work, but naturally, ■showing especial concern in those rooms in which their own particular boys or girls were occupied. Many were the reminiscences exchanged of other school days, the comparisons made with present conditions and remarks passed as to the benefits the children now enjoy. Appreciation was also in many cases stated of the patience and interest shown by the teachers in the children’s welfare and progress. By letting the parents meet the teachers and seeing them at work with the children a better mutual understanding was created between parents and teachers, and this is bound to lead to even better results from the work of the schools.

Primary School.

At the Primary School, besides seeing ordinary class work, parents also saw school work exhibited from the modest efforts of the infants to most attractive and excellently finished loom weaving by the children of Standards 3 and 4. A brisk business could have been done had sale been desired for the trays, baskets, waste-paper baskets, work baskets and other articles on view, while many ideas were gained as to how to make use of sugar-bags, old rubber tyres or even pine-needles. After a display of drill by the children, visitors were entertained to after-

noon tea, thoughtfully provided by the mothers, and so generous had they been that the whole school next morning enjoyed a sumptuous “ morning tea.” High School. Varied interests of the classrooms tempted the visitors at the High School so that the time passed too quickly. From a visit to the “ Tech,” where the girls were busy cooking and the boys engaged with woodwork, parents passed to the main school, where they observed classes devoted to science, sewing,

play-reading, drawing and printing, others singing very sweetly, while a modern form was occupied with milk-testing, basket-weaving, typing, book-keeping, duplicating and printing. At three o’clock came games’ period, when, in the spacious playing fields, four football matches and six basketball games among the various “ houses ” were soon in progress. On the ringing of the 3.30 bell, bus assembly took place, when the long line of country children marched to their respective buses, the adults remaining to partake of a very dainty afternoon tea, which greatly to the mothers’ appreciation was provided entirely by the school. During the afternoon tea, Mr. A. M. A. Wright, chairman of the High School committee, expressed the thanks of the parents to the staff and children for the hospitality of the afternoon, and voiced the general opinion that under the conditions existing at the school the welfare of their children was fully assured.