"VERY SMALL INDEED."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 235, 4 October 1928, Page 22

"VERY SMALL INDEED."

HOME WORK IN THE SCHOOLS

CHIEF INSPECTOR'S VIEW.

"LEAVE IT TO HEAD TEACHERS."

''I am of the opinion that the amount <bf home work set in primary schools is Tery small indeed/' wrote the Chief Inspector of Schools (Mr. C. W. Garrard), in an interesting report which was presented to the Education Board in response to a query raised in a letter which was received from the City Schools Committee at the last meeting of the hoard. The chief inspector pointed out that in many schools no home work at all was given, and that where it was given it was usually limited to the preparation of reading lessons, poetry, and possibly geography, the maximum time devoted by the pupils being probably not more than half an hour. "Efficient teachers realise," the report continued, "that under conditions where pupils are required to work up to a maximum of five hours per day it is "unnecessary and unwise to impose further heavy tasks demanding proportionate mental application." Mr. Garrard stated that in the secondary departments of district high schools, ■where pupils were older than those in "the primary departments, it was customary to give one hour of home work each evening. He saw no argument against this, as the pupils were well able to bear the extra strain. Many of these pupils were studying for Departmental and other examinations, the work for which could scarcely be covered in the limited time at the disposal of the teachers during school hours. "There is also the thought," the report proceeded, "that the setting of some home work, especially in English, may encourage the practice of reading, which will be of material advantage to students after they leave school. I have in recent years made many inquiries, and conducted investigations concerning home work in schools, and I am convinced that the teachers in this district realise the importance of exercising restraint in the matter of requiring pupils to prepare lessons after school hours. The latter-day tendency has been to restrict to a large extent the setting of home work. "I do not think it adv' .able or necessary," Mr. Garrard concluded, "for the board to instruct the teachers in the matter of setting home work, as it may safely be left to the wise judgment of the head teachers." The board, on the recommendation of the chairman (Mr. A. Bums) resolved to endorse the advice given in the report, and to forward a copy to the City Schools Committee.