CHILD CONTROL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 13 October 1941, Page 8

CHILD CONTROL

PARENTS TOO LAX TEACHERS’ INVESTIGATION Some very pointed comment on the I tendency of parents to allow children too much freedom, particularly at night, is contained in a report issued by the I Auckland Headmasters’ Association, fcl lowing a detailed investigation into the I activities of primary school children before and after school hours, and their bearing on non attendance at school. The Association suggests among other | ! things, that there should be provision m the Child Welfare Act to bring parjonts before the Court, in child delinquency cases, to answer for their own neglect to control the children. ! The investigation arose out of the j concern expressed by headmasters that, as a result of activities outside school ! hours, there was caused in the children j over stimulation, loss of sleep and lowered vitality, with a consequent disturbance of the normal progress in their i studies. ! The Committee of Investigation has no fault to find with the employment i of children in set work before and after school, provided that: (1) The conditions of work are not prejudicial to the I welfare of the children; (2) the hours 'are reasonable; (3) the children have (sufficient sleep and proper meals; (4) (their participation in games and healthy | recreation is not unduly curtailed. “The (enquiry makes it evident,” it states, “that in the case of many children these provisions are entirely neglected.” j The report slates it was found that, during the school week, when rest and healthy recreation are more than ever ; necessary, several thousand children regularly attend picture theatres, or gatherings of various kinds, and arrive home llong after the time when they should j be peacefully asleep. “In the light of the statistics obtained,” continued the report, “it is apparent that there exists among parents ( much lack of attention to the welfare of their children, due to: (1) Ignorance of the laws of health; (2) lack of know- ; ledge of the dangers besetting young (people when unprotected; (3) failure ; to exercise proper control over where ; their children go, and what they do; and I (.4) pure selfishness. “Because of the neglect of parents to carry out their duty of controlling their (children properly, delinquency often bei comes incipient at an early age. It is. therefore, by no means uncommon for i children of tender years to have to api pear before the Juvenile Court for serious offences against persons and pro- | perty, such as theft, breaking and entering. mischief, unlawful conversion of (bicycles, cars and boats. | "The natural protectors of children are their parents, and the longer days in summer, the week-ends, and other holi- | days, are times when the necessity of exercising proper control over their children becomes a serious and urgent responsibility. “The Child Welfare Act seems to give no power to bring the parents before the Court to answer for their own neglect to control their children properly. In Canada and some of the United States of America parents who neglect their responsibilities in this way are ! proceeded against. The offence is j known as contributory delinquency. "Some such provision” suggests the report, “should be added to the Child j Welfare Act of this country.” =