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Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1925, Page 2

The Home-School scheme, which the education authorities have put into working order this week, should secure the cordial support of the parents. Without it the scheme cannot ho the utiifoim success it- should. It is apparent that, these home lessons will continue at least for this month. Though at the outset the children may be interested in the novelty of the work, the newness will soon pass away and without the authority to enforce attention to the work there will l>e a slackness which will be akin to idleness itself. The parents therefore nave a special obligation placed upon them in seeing tlrat their children keep up to the mark, aiul do not shirk attention to the school work set them. It is good in any case for the parents to take more personal interest in the school work of their children. When all was running smoothily and regularly it was the custom with most families to leave all tuition to the teachers. There is no doubt the work of the teacher can he greatly aided when parents take a personal interest in the home work, in seeing that full attention is devoted to the tasks set, and seeing that the children appicciate and understand the home "oik they have to do; that, in fact they will not perform it in a parrot-like way, hut will realise and understand why anil wherefore the tasks have to |,e done in the way set out. In the scheme as now in vogue, a. week’s work at a time is set, and the parents should see that a reasonable time each dav is set apart to perioral a fair proportion of the amount. There is no occasion for the work to he done at night. It should he performed in the daylight without eye strain, and a part of the daily round should he reserved exclusively for the purpose. The parents , in fact for the occasion, should exorcise ‘ a derive of discipline akin to the methods of the school teacher, so that the voung mind will appreciate the per- ' forma lice of the duty imposed. The children on their part- should hear m mind that the work is to lie unertaken as solid preparation for their class preferment, and that when the schools resume, they will lie examined on what they have done. Therefore the home preparation must needs he thorough il the best advantage is to lie made ol the year’s work as a whole. W’luit is now 1 icing done is an important part of the work of the year, and the scholars "ho wish to emulate should attack the home ' lessons seriously, and strive to excell to the hast of their ability. Parents . have the obligation all u.c time to help to the best of their ability, and to im- | pose their authority in seeing that the | childten do full justice to the tasks set them.

Tin-; report of the Reserves Committee read at the. Borough Council last evening deals with an important matter alKvtiug the northern end of the town. The drifting sand is a serious matter to the residents, apart from the unsightly condition in which it leaves the street and footpath. In fact, altogether tin northern end of the town inis rather an unsightly appearance, and it is certainty a. part of the Borough which stands in need of a general clean up. 1 his refers to the drains and footpaths particularly. The chief drainage is by an old water course, and this In's been allowed to block. It i.s net cssary to keep these open courses in a tleared condition vi that at times of heavy rainfull they will dear themselves naturally. and prevent the Hooding of tile mi', roundings with stagnant water. It is net in the interests of the health ol the community that those water courses should he neglected indefinitely. Jho\ should he .subject to regular clearing. In the same way. the footpath along so important a street as l pper Sewell Street is becoming, should not lie neglected indefinitely, but should have attention, so thr.t young children will not have to use the roadway and run the risk of accident from passing vehicle traffic. Reverting to the sand nuisance, it will he a good thing if the plant ition of marram grass can be ext.eiuiod. There are other plants which take root and thrive well in sandy soil, niul it would bo well to ensure a more sightlv appearance, to have the beach front well planted with all suitable plants. The growth of the grass has been extensive at the town end of the beach, and it would now be possible, as suggested, to secure a ready supply of healthy roots in season, which could he transplanted, and so ensure more general growth at the upper end of the beach. The proposal to erect and extend the walled barracudas on the sea side of North Revell Street is a good one. Already those put in are proving useful, and they certainly minimise the nuicance of the wind-driven sand. If the residents will co-operate, the idea is to licli) them to abate the nuisance which must affect their properties seriously. The general effect on the apearanee of that part of the town is reason enough for the Council to move in the matter, and now that attention has been directed to the obligations of the local body in regard to a neglected portion of the town, it is to he hoped more attention will he devoted to that quarter in the future.