SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6667, 31 March 1883, Page 6

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

TO TUB KDITOIt. Sir, —Without disputing what "Another Parent" asserts, that tho lung holidays given by the Board of Education are injurious to the childreu, I feel compelled to say that, to my mind, parents casta very grave reflection upon themselves when they deprecate tho harm done to children by "six weeks of roaming in the streets." Have parents, then, no responsibilities? And do the children when away from tho teachcr's supervision follow their own will in every particular ? Occupy yojr children at homo, my friends, in your gardens (where you have tin 111) ; where you have not, find something for their busy fingers and active brains to do. Let them make kites, and scrapbooka, or cover screens, or follow some of tho thousand and ono employments in which the childish heart delights, and you will not find the holidays so injurious. Why should you expect them continually to be taken off your hands and out of your way ? Be patient with them, and mako home pleasant to them for a little while, and they will not fly from you to the streets. With regard to the teachers, five hours five days in the week, let mo say one word. Few, indeed, are the teachers who can make those hours cover their work at school and those the least competent. When do the public imagine that the teacher can make up his rolls and prepare his class basons? Certainly not within the five hours which are allotted to instruction. If the teacher has a shorter day than most business men it should be remembered that he passes that day in a vitiated atmosphere, and is continually speaking ; than which there is no toil more arduous. Let the parents not grudge him (or her) his well-earnod rest, butjmake home pleasant to the children for the short time they are with them. I for one should feci very sorry it my children found holidays wearisome and hom«j a dreary place, although when vacation is over they are always slad to resume their lessons and to meet their teachers.-—I am, &c., Oxn Who Has Sbrn Both Si dim.