COURSES FOR TEACHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18947, 19 February 1925, Page 5

COURSES FOR TEACHERS.

Sir,—l wonder who is the author of this brilliant idem of bringing all our young teachers from their country hojnes to travel by crowded motors, trains niid river steamers to Auckland or other infected centres, to attend for one week lectures -at ihe training col leg,;. These girls and boys will have to look for lodgings in boarding houses or hotels— atshort notice. Then there is the question of their return home at the end of the week, and travelling in this hot aud oppressive weather from an infected, area to homes absolutely free, perhaps where there are young children. Has the health officer been consulted! before crowding our girls and boys in lecture halls during this period? A Nurse. Sir,—ln last Friday's' Herald appeared a notice cancelling all camps, parades, etc., connected with the Defence Department. This precaution was considered necessary to prevent the spread of infan • tile paralysis. The same issue contained a notice from the Auckland Education Board calling ail teachers within a radius of 60 miles of four given centres to attend "refresher courses" during the week" commencing February 23. Many of the teachers will come to 'own from "clean"districts and will re urn car. rie.'s, perhaps developing the _ disease themselves—adults not being immntie.. They will come, perhaps immediately, into close contact with most of the children in their districts, in ill-ventilated and often crowded rooms. As a parent, I consider this is an act of folly on the part of those responsible for these "refresher courses." One hopes that this matter will be brought to the notice of the 'health authorities, especially the Director of Child . Welfare. Compos Mentis.