EXEMPTION ORDERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3774, 17 September 1907, Page 2

EXEMPTION ORDERS.

Granting of exemption orders to school children came in for lengthy discussion at last night’s School Committee meeting. Orders have been granted to parents in the past on tbe most trivial excuses and, as Mr Henuessy pointed out, certain parents had reduced the business to a fine art. The Committee has decided in future to deal with absentees in a firm manner and the headmaster will be appointed referee, if we may so use the term. This does not mean that the Committee will transfer the sole right of granting exemptions to the master, but the feeling of the Committee is that the master is in a better position to judge of applications on their merits. It is a matter for surprise that parents do not realise to what extent they are standing in the way of their children’s educational advancement, by keeping them at home. Once children get into the habit of “staying at home” they will trump up all manner of excuses to dodge their lessons. If parents are indifferent about their children’s education, what can we expect from the children ? The habit of “ staying at home,” if encouraged by the parents, handicaps the 1103 7 in after life. It is then he pays the penalty for his parents’ carelessness.