Educating Parents

Te Ao Hou, March 1964, Page 11

Educating Parents It was decided that much greater effort was needed to make parents aware of the part that they play in the education of their children. This is recognised as one of the great needs throughout New Zealand and not only amongst Maoris. A special scheme for parent education is to be prepared jointly by the Council, the Women's Leagues, Adult Education authorities and the Maori Education Foundation. It was also decided that Maori Committees and Leagues should be as active as possible in encouraging Maori mothers and fathers to take an interest in their children's education by joining in Parent-Teacher Associations or accepting positions on School Committees. Members of the seminar thought that this would be of benefit to the schools as much as to the parents and the children. Following on from educational needs the seminar thought that more should be done in the way of vocational guidance for our young people. They need to be better prepared for the difficulties that they will face when they start work in factories or offices and when they have to live away from home. While the work of the Vocational Guidance Officers is greatly appreciated, there seems to be a need for a more varied approach on the part of the authorities providing this useful service if it is to have the result of getting our youngsters into the jobs that are best suited to them.