THE SCHOOL WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 9

THE SCHOOL WORLD.

A WEEKLY REVIEW.NOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY Teachers and others interested in tho administration of education are invited to contribute notes for -publication in -Tho School World." These should bo addressed to tl'.e Editor, "Tho School World." The Dojiixton. Wellington, and posted to roach this ofiico not later than Wednesday in each week. Correspondents desiring enlightenment upon any question in connection with the sehooi work, or the General administration of tho education system, are invited to submit those points to the Editor for elucidation and reply. Where anonymity 16 desired, it will be strictly observed. THE "CAT-O'-TEN TAILS." AN OFFICIAL' SPECIFICATION. In his annual report, Dr. Center Roth, medical inspecting officer of the Now South Wales Department of Public Instruction, says that there should bo more concise instructions in connection with the.infliction of corporal punishment, as regards the implement used and tho part of tho body struck. Ho mentions that recently he' saw corporal punishment administered to three boys, and he complains on three counts—(l) That they werepunished in presence of the class; (2)' that a cane was used; (3) that the punishment was inflicted on iho palm. "It is a question," lie says, "whether punishment should be inflicted in public. A cane shouklnotboused, as its application may cause an'open wound .which may become septic. In my opinion, tbo 'tawse' would be preferable. It consists of a, leather strap, 2ft. long, 21in. wide, and ISin.. of the strap is split up longitudinally into iin. thongs. The application of the 'taw: : e' causes pain but, no injury. It ought to be kept well oiled, and should never be knotted or tho ends charred."— A simple c/ioiilatiou shows that the thongs will number ten, and it is a question whether tho homely term "tawse," or the more fearsome title "cat-o'-nine-tails," would strike more awe. The doc-tor-adds that punishment should bo applied lo the back across the shoulders, and to no other part of tho body, and he considers "caning of the palm is most reprehensible, as it is liable to set up inflammation of tho tissues, and to cause fibrous contraction of tho palm and fingers." HOMEWORK. AN ABUSE TO BE REMEDIED. , Referring to certain comments which appeared in the "School World" answers to correspondents some time ago, on the subject of homework, it may bo of interest to note that a change of considerable importance in teaching methods is to be effected by the New South Wales Education Department. Tho Director of Public Instruction recently stated that for some time o. number of the school inspec-. tors had suggested a much greater restriction of tlie practice of setting homelessons. Tho present regulation, ho explained, prescribed the time which might be demanded for these lessons, but there was good reason to think that some teachers through their excess of zeal, or, perhaps, for want of thought, inflicted "burdens grievous to be borne." The inspectors considered that the time spent in the revision of home lessons in' class and by teachers in their spare time could bo better spent.in direct, class .teaching. In the new courses of study to, bo issued shortly definite instructions "'are to bo given to teachers on tho subject of homo lessons;' and' more use is to-be. made.of supplementary Tending lessons. It is hoped that the reading of supplementary readers and - volumes from tho school libraries will take the place to a great extent of (ho home tasks that are complained of by teachers and by parents. It was not to bo understood, said the Director, .thht'uome.-kssohs.-wtreJ considered solely an evil." 'It was'the abuse of tho ..practice, that the Department intended to "remedy." There'would still be home'tasks of an educational nature. .... FREE SCHOOL BOOKS. TWO ADVERSE COMMENTS... At two different places this week havo been noted 'some adverse comment on Mr. Fowlds's'. free-book policy. The Southland Education Board's inspectors recently announced that they could see no reason for retracting tho opinion they had formerly expressed—that tho supply of free.' text-books.was a mistaken .policy. -, Advocate,"shaving, in :mi)id : ;iio doubt;/the trouble the Marton peopledhave had to get a. decent school building.; scheme' under way, vents its displeasure thus:—"When money is required for building a school or doing somo of the real work of education, tho State has none to spare. At the same time it is spending a- large sum on school books, a.nd wasting it oa a school journal. Minister Fqwlds also assures us that the expenditure on free reading books will bo heavier than ever this.year.. It is amazing that tho taxpayers do not unitedly , protest against tho State doing more than it caa justly bo called upon to do in this matter. A State which throws open tho doors of knowledge to the young has done all that it can reasonably be expected to do at the' cost of tlio general taxpayer. The parents havo responsibilities, which they should not bo allowed lo shirk. •. -

THE SCHOOLS FROM WITHIN. The Matamnu School .was reopened on Monday, tho medical authorities having assured the committee that thero was no danger of infection from measles. There is an epidemic of measles among the pupils attending the Belvedere School (Wairarapa) and out of a roll number of 58 only 22 put in an appearance on Monday at school, four being present in the infants' room. "That owing to the great expense incurred by many teachers when transferred from one school to another, the board be asked to make arrangements whereby these expenses shall bo defrayed."—Resolution adopted at the annual meeting of tho Taranaki District Teachers' Institute. At the monthly meeting of the Otaki School Committee this week, the resignation of Miss Foster (of the teaching staff) was received with regret; tho committee, decided to send her a letter, expressing appreciation of her excellent services. Owing to the retirement of Mr. Hughes a vacancy has occurred on tho Public School Teachers' Superannuation Board. To fill the vacancy the Southland branch of the N.Z.E.I, has nominated Mr. Valentine, of Timaru. Mr. Valentine has been a member of the board on a previous occasion, and is well known to teachers throughout New Zealand as a painstaking and energetic worker. : ; The membership roll of", tho : Taranaki Teachers' Institute continues to increaso in a very satisfactory manner. On July 1, 1010, (hero were 12S members on tho books, and during the year tho membership rose to 111, being flfi per cent of tho teachers of the district.. A correspondent wrote as follows to tho Daiinevirko "News" the other day:—"ln your paper tho other day you refer to a teacher in East Lothian 'who volunteered tho information to her.class that a hare was a male rabbit.' There is no need to go to East Lothian for 'howlers.' What do the farmers think of tho following statement: 'The tail of a sheep is short and woolly. The animal dees not require a long tail like the horse or cow, as its (leeca is a protection against flies and insects, as well as against cold.' This is from tho 'New Zealand Nature Study Book for use in schools." Referring, in its alinnnl report, to tho district ni'uinotion scheme inaugurated by I ho Education Board, the Taranaki Teachers' Institute considers _ that the scheme "is giving general satisfaction as a transfer scheme, as it enables teachers who are out of touch with committees or parents lo bo transferred to a moro congenial situation; .hut as a promotion scheme it. can scarcely be said to have yet had n. trial. One weakr.oss uf the i-chenie that could easily be remedied is I hat I lie low system of marking atlopttd acts detrimentally lo Taranaki teachers applying .for positions outside their own district." At the same time these district promotion schemes were welcome, and Iliad now been introduced into Auckland. Wanganui. Nelson, ami Southland, os well 1 as Taranaki; it is confidently hoped that

in tho r.ear i'utmo (hey will give place Id n Dominion scheme formulated on a uniform bans." The Hawke's Bay Education Board has decided that it cannot at present' sec 'its way to support tho South Canferbury Hoard iu its application to tho Minister for payment of .subsidies ou voluntary contributions received by school commits tecs tho board being of opinion that there was no possibility of the Government consenting to such application; but on (he contrary that combined action by the boards as suggested, would probably : lead to an amendment of tho Act in tho direction of discontinuing tho 'subsidies payable to district high schools. At the Campbell Street School Committee meeting this week , tho headmaster sent in the'following monthly report:— Average roll. 7-15.5, average, attendance G71.5, highest attendance 703, present.roll number 752, 40 half days open. He also reported that tho attendance had now fully recovered", from the measles epidemic, and the accommodation is so fully taxed that, ho would have to refuse scholars in some of tho standard classes. It was slated that the board .would, not ..enlarge the school, but had been talking of building a now infant, school iu Palmerstou. After further, discussion it, was decided to write to tho Education Board with regard to overcrowding, and draw attention to the fact that the headmaster had to refuse admittance to any more scholars. „.,''. When tho: Now Zealand teachers wero in Sydney last Christmas they extended a warm invitation to tho New South Wales. teachers to visit the at tho end of this year. Letters from New Zealand show that tho invitation holds good, and Mr. Frank M'Mullcn, tho wellknown grade , cricketer, is prepared _to undertake tho 'preliminary organising work.