HOME LESSONS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 108, 12 May 1896, Page 2

HOME LESSONS.

The much-vexed subject of v home lessons" was discussed m an animated manner by the School Committee last night, the question having been brought into debate by the casual allusion of a member to an adverse opinion expressed at the recent householders' meeting, The Chairman suggested that the teachers be asked to submit a specimen of home lessons given during a week. Mr Eayner said that they need not go to the teachers for a sample. The children got too much to do at night. He had had to pack bis boy off to bed from his lessons, and the boy had suffered at school because he had not finished them. Mr Green said that he had heard numbers of complaints from the parents of girls. But on the other Land, the boys were not worked so hard, and the elder ones especially had few home lessons or none at all given them. Mr Stuart said that that was the result of his observation. Mr Rayner thought the children should be given no home lessons at all. Mr Green thought that the elder boys and girls should be required to do such work. Mr Browne was of the opinion that the same syllabus should be observed for boys and girls. He was favorable to only a very moderate amount of light work for the elder pupils. The Chairman asked if the supervision of home lessons was not within the province of the Inspector. Mr Browne said that the excessive home work inflicted on the children now was merely a means by which the teachers shirked their duties and transferred them to the parents. The Chairman thought that tho system was no hardship at all if not abused. He had never had a complaint from any of his children, and never saw them during all the "years of their school life required to do more than an hour's work. Mr Green coincided. Mr Tunnicliffe said that it was not the fault of the teachers. The fault lay m the syllabus. As a rule the children dawdled, and could generally do their work m half an hour if they liked. Mr Dixon said that if to give home lessons were right, the school hours should be extended. Mr Browne asked why the weak and delicate pupils, who were not able to stand the excessive strain, should suffer for the sake of the stronger and more robust. Mr Green asked why the progress of the strong should be retarded on account of the weak. It was a oaso of the "survival of the fittest. 11 (Laughter.) , Mr Fuller a*id tL~I there was no do uU there was a great deal of disproportion m the system. The young children were worked too hard. After further discussion the Visitiug Committee for the ensuing month Messrs J. B. Green and J. A. Fuller, were authorised to investigate the system pursued m the Borough School, their report to be presented at next meeting.