CHILD DELINQUENCY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24103, 23 October 1941, Page 6

CHILD DELINQUENCY

Sir, —May J endeavour to express the concern of thoughtful parents on the subject of child delinquency. Thoughtful parents commend the committee's concern, hut deeper concern is felt regarding the underlying issues, in that those to whom we should look for instruction have so meagre a contribution to offer in true reiorm. How can parent confidence deepen in these leaders when the only proposal totsuch a dire stale is that "power should be provided to bring such parents before the Court?"

We are being told constantly that present world chaos is due largely to a lack of personal understanding of peoples with peoples; that the fundamentals of life in list .he absorbed by all so that'they he applied naturally to all problems desperate or otherwise. Vet on the first disclosures of just such an existing domestic problem we are directed to resort to this extreme measure.

Undoubtedly the responsibility <>f this evil rests largely on the parent, who, in the majority of rases, is totallv untrained tor the task assigned Hut what of the teachers' responsibility? We as parents ask that the teachers, too, be faced with an investigation as to their share of responsibility in this matter. Had investigations into school control and moral

training been equal with those into home control and moral training, parents would have had greater confidence in the possibilities of an immediate and lasting reform. Here too a vital question should be asked. How many of the concerned headmasters approached personally the delinquent parents? Parents desire that there be a regular personal contact between teacher and parent in order that true co-ordination between the home and school training he j achieved. I'nder existing conditions ; children dislike parents either writing i to, or personally interviewing, teachers j because they feel that in some mysteri- j ous way a slur is cast. This should not j he. | As parents we therefore suggest that j this discloses the need for immediate j formation of associations where parents 1 and teachers will discuss generally and j personally all matters pertaining to ; child-behaviour and mora! training. | Then, and only then, will hoi.ii home j and school conditions come under tliej searching light of a truly constructive j criticism am', so bring about the reiorm j so greatly desi'.ed bv all. Tiioi'(;»Trt'ii Pakkm