Closer Link Between College And Homes Urged

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1949, Page 4

Closer Link Between College And Homes Urged

I§ there sufiicient co-operation . between the Horowhenua coilege aud tffe homes of its students? The principal, Mr. N.- A. Byrne, asked ■ this question at the annhal preaking-up ceremony of the coilege on Thursday, mentioning that it was a matter \vhich had oc- ■ casioned him somp thought. "When John on Mary is success-? ful, both school and home are ready to take the credit for !his or her success," said Mr, Byrne, "but what about John or Mary when they are unsuocessful or in frou'ble? Are both equally ready to take their share of blame for the faiiurcs? Yef it is prec'isely ' in the latter cgse that co-opera-tion between ihe school and the home is neccssary, "I find that often parents apolo- ■ gise for comipg to diseus? their children, but no apology is necessary. I wish fhat ever-y parent . ! would "come anp talk over both ' our successes and our failures, , especially "the failure?, The schopl can only reinforce the foundations of character laid in the home. I would like to impress on parents that I am always glad to see them. If a parent is not satisfied with the result of his child's schooling, i would muph prefer thaf he came and talked the matter over rather I than that he talked of it outside , the school ahd" did nothing about it. In the matter of attendance particularly I would urge parents to co-operate with us." , He had thought that the formation of a parent-teacher association might assist, concluded Mr. Byrne, but in a district so widely spread it was diflicult to see how it could be, reailY representative and operate efiiciently. If it could he woul'd welcome its inaugura- ! tion.