TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17459, 1 May 1920, Page 4 (Supplement)

TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

BY. TIVIEH. Apart altogether from the gaiety and the keen interest that have centred about the events of the past week, the visit of His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales , has proved conclusively that, when the j heart is touched and the imagination deeply stirred, the Auckland public is really capable of rising to a degree of enthusiasm, hitherto unsuspected. The glow of feeling that characterised the i welcome ol the adult community, how- | ever, quickened into a blaze of loyalty ft the children's demonstration to the Prince last Monday. For to the children the Royal visitor made a special appeal, partly because of his own charming and kindly personality, partly because he was the I'rince of Wales, but partly also because he represented the mighty empire of which they formed a part. To them he was the concrete embodiment of all the splendid traditions of their history books, to them he stood for a Prince behind whom lav all the glorious deeds of England's glorious past, and as such he stirred their imaginations and roused in them a vague but true and deep feeling for tradition.

And in all the world there is no more potent factor in laying the foundation of national loyalty, than this same feeling for old and honourable traditions. Even in the evervday events of life, in narrow and limited spheres of activity, it is an inspiring and stimulating thing The mother proves her knowledge of jts value when she sets before her children ideals inspired by tales of heroic ancestors; the schoolmaster realises its potency when, in his opening remarks to a class newly " moved up," he dwells eloquently en the many virtues and fine record of his former pupils, and implies doubt of tho ability of the newcomers to roach as high a standard of excellence. And if all this is true of private life, it is more than over true of national life. Here in New Zealand, the loyalty, patriotism, and imagination of oar children have not the constant stimulus which is afforded English children by tho frequent sight, not only of the symbols of royalty but also of the ancient ruins, the line old churches and castles and public buildings with which are bound up a thousand splendid traditions, a thousand thrilling historical associations. For English children history lives again in those time-worn buildings, and it needs but little imagination to people the actual scenes of certain events with the very characters who figured in them. Hence it is only natural that English children, surrounded as thev are by innumerable relics of the past, should have a feeling for tradition, which is absent, or at least, -dormant in the children of the Overseas Dominions.

Yet after nil there is one thing even more stimulating than living up to ancient traditions, and that is making new traditions for future generations. Our children have before them the ideals of the past; but across their path there glows the beacon-light of an ideal still more splendid, because still to be attained the thought that New Zealand is yet in the making and that in their hands lies the power, not only to uphold past traditions of truth and justice, honour and loyalty, but aho to build up new traditions that shall make their country a worthy offshoot of the old itock.

An organisation which is known as the Sailors' and Soldiers' Mothers' Band, and which originated in Adelaide, is now so rapidly extending its sphere of activity and usefulness as to make itself felt in all parts of Australia. At present one of the matters on which its attention is chiefly concentrated is the establishment of rest homos for the mothers of soldiors and sailors. The idea ie to take over a number of cottages in healthy and cheerful surroundings, where women who could not in the ordinary way afford the luxury, may be sent to recuperate for a short period at a merely nominal charge. 80 popular has the scheme proved, and so numerous are the applications from mothers anxious to avail themselves of the opportunity, that more cottages are already in urgent request. It is a matter for speculation whether such a scheme could be adopted in New Zealand, and it is possible that many who are the happy possessors of holiday cottages might be willing to place them at the temporary disposal of approved tenants less fortunate than themselves, even for a brief period of time.

The earl mistress of a large infant school in Wellington was recently re.sporsible for (in innovation which should certainly, prove a step in the right direction as regards the suggested co-operation of teachers and parents, and which might be followed with advantage by other and more advanced schools. At her invitation the mothers of her little pupils paid a visit to the school on an appointed day, for the purpose of watching the children at their usual daily occupations, and of thus gaining an insight, into the work, the general conditions nnd the difficulties that normally prevail in a large school. A brief but illuminating talk with the mothers afterward* did much to enlist thoir sympathy end interest, to correct wrong impressions, and to elncidate a good deal that, had been previously bnt vaguely or imperfectly understood in regard to the teachers' methods and aims.

Such opportunities for mutual discns sion on the part of mothers and teachers must inevitably prove helpful to both, and consequently beneficial to their charges; and if the schools made a regular practice of Laving " Mothers' days" at staled in tennis, it would at least be ,i stepping stone on the way to a common ideal--the welfare of the young peop e Much of the indifference on the part of parents to matters pertaining to srhoo) is the result of sheer apathy and lack of understanding of educational methods and aims: and much of it also is due It an absurd hut rooted conviction that on'e a child leaves it.- home for school in the morning, that st I ion I is entirely responsible for it for the rest 'if the day. if n't for the whole week from Monday to Friday. When a scheme, such as that suggested, has been devised to ronnteract this tendency, we in.iv look for improvement in educational matters.