AID OR HINDRANCE?

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1939, Page 23

AID OR HINDRANCE?

KADIO & HOMEWORK

COLLEGE QUESTIONNAIRES

Can radio programmes be mixed with homework without injury to the latter, or may .radio be regarded as a gentle mental stimulus, relieving, perhaps, any drudgery that might be connected with homework? Without definitely answering these questions, some reports furnished to a meeting of the Wellington Colleges Board of Governors furnished some interesting data relative to radio in scholars' homes and the frequency with which it is turned on while homework is being done.

The report furnished by Mr. F. Martyn Renner showed that inquiries had revealed that in the homes of over 95 per cent, of the scholars at Rongotai College radio sets were installed, a fact from which certain conclusions about the popularity of radio and the economic condition of the country might be drawn. Inquiries showed further that in approximately 300 homes out of 500 radio sets were on most of the time. In over 40 per cent, of the homes, in 207 cases out of 497, radio sets continued to produce their miscellany of entertainment while scholars were doing homework. The B stations, it transpired, were the most popular accompaniment for homework.

Mr. Renner said that he could not agree that music in the backgrouna could be an effective stimulus to mental effort, although he could understand it being a valuable stimulus to physical effort. "Personally, 1 consider," he said, "that wireless has a very decided effect on anyone's ability to concentrate, and not a good effect at that. Soft, subdued music to certain temperaments brings a beneficial stimulus to the powers of concentration. We have tried it out at this school—some years ago—and I am prefured to admit that music of that kind will help a boy in his home preparation. But it has to be remembered that the bright, intelligent boy, say of 11 to 13 years of age, is the boy who finds it difficult to concentrate. His mind is essentially active and he does well in his work !in class more through his native wit j than through concentration on his home lessons in preparation for next day's woi-k. My contention is that if he does well with the wireless on, he can do better with the wireless off. SUGGESTION TO PARENTS, "How-eve*, I propose to take action by sending a circular to all parents at the end of this month and to suggest that, wherp possible, the wireless should be controlled at certain times in the evening to enable home lessons to be done to the best advantage oy the young people, or, if the wireless must be on for the benefit of adults, the home lessons should be done in a separate room. I know that there are difficulties in the way, and that my suggestions are open to criticism. Nevertheles. I am prepared to hear I them and answer them., One criticism 1 possibly will come from the advocate iof no homework. I believe in homeI work (1) if it is set in moderation, and j (2) if it is used as a means of confirming and establishing what has been 'taught during the day. I believe in homework as a very valuable means of training a child in settled and orderly habits of work." BACKGROUND OF NOISE. Similar inquiries made of scholars attending the Wellington Girls' College showed that in 225 cases out of 392 radio was perpetually on in the home. I In about 35 per cent, the homes it I was on while homework was being done.

"It is depressing," remarked Miss North, the principal, "to think that 2ZB is the most popular station and contributes most to the formation of a standard of taste among our pupils. At present that standard is a most undesirable one.

"My first comment," she continued, "is that we obviously have to reckon with the radio as part of the equipment of the home. My second is that, with housing difficulties such as exist at present, we cannot reasonably expect all to have quiet rooms for homework, though we can hold that out as an ideal. My third is that there must be rising a type that expscts to have a background of noise and that prefers to have it so—hence the 73 per cent, of homes with the radio on practically always. Time will show whether the race will suffer an emotional and nervous strain, or whether the human body will adapt itself to the new conditions."