SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 117, 17 April 1934, Page 2

SCHOOL CHILDREN.

AGE AT ENTRANCE. Strong advocacy for the restoration of the old system of allowing children to enter school at five years of age was voiced at the annual meeting, last evening, of householders of the Russell Street School. The subject was brought up by Mr C. N. Rabone, who moved the following motion:—“That in the interests of the physical, social and moral welfare of the children of New Zealand, this meeting urges that the clause forbidding the enrolment of a child at a primary school until the age of six years is reached be repealed, it being our opinion that such clause is highly undesirable on the grounds of national health and welfare, and that the injury. to education generally, caused by its operation, far outweighs any benefit received from economy.” Mr Rabone said that it was easily half a century since England had adopted the principle of permitting children to enter school at five years of age. _ They had not seen fit to alter this legislation, and they had experienced just as strenuous times as New Zealand, if not more strenuous. There w r as a surplus of teachers, who had to be rationed out, and now was the time to press the matter forward, because the Minister had previously advanced the excuse that there Were insufficient teachers. Children were much happier and more comfortable enjoying the school environment at an awkward age when, to some extent, they lost the supervision of their parents. Householders could go even further and advocate the establishment of kindergartens and nurseries. It was at the schools where the children received their first strict lessons in discipline. -The resolution was carried unanimously without further discussion.