SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13749, 11 September 1908, Page 3

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

(To the Editor,) Dear Sir. — I see by the papers that the Education Board intend to make it compulsory for children to attend school every time that the school is open. Now, parents as a rule do not keep children home for the fun of the. thing, but because it is absolutely necessary for them to have a little help. In these days it is impossible to get domestic help, therefore we have to fall backv on the children. But that is not done l unless it is impossible to do witnout them. lam a mother; therefore 1 can speak from experience. I have hact six children attending school, and never kept one home to help me until failing health compelled me. About two yean ago my Jbaby was born, that being m$ ninth child. My health broke down, rind I found it utterly impossible foi me to do my housework, cooking, washing, baking and sewing, for a family as large as mine if I did not have some help. 60 I kept my girl (the onh one) at home on Mondays to give ia«. a little help while I did the washing and ironing. If I cannot have tha child's help on that day I am afraic the children's clothes will suffer f6r s find that washing is absolutely neces Bary. I know that I am not the onl? one in such a position, and if the chair man makes it compulsory for the child ren to attend school, the best thing Ik oan do is to go round and help thepoo: mothers on washing day. Now, sir there has been a lot of talk '■ aboti "Child Slavery" in Taranaki.- Now • say tKere is no such thing, yoil tuigh find one case in fifty, but it id Mothe Slavery in Tar'anakij and, if this stat* of affairs goes on the best thing tlv Government can do to haye a Stat nursery and bring the children uj themselyes for it is utterly impossible for,poor struggling parents to do so.: — j am, etc., ' A JVIOTHER. Warea, Sept. 2.