THE NEW 5CH00L "POLICE." Wanted, the old Constable.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 148, 2 May 1903, Page 8

THE NEW SCHOOL "POLICE." Wanted, the old Constable.

SOME tame ago it was felt that the work done by the tiuant officei to the "Wellington Education Board was really not lequned. Fact is, said the gentlemen on the Boaid, we will constitute ourselves and our committees watchdogs ovei the little lambs, and see that they aie duly treated with the amount of education as by law prescribed. The senous educationists were even facetious on the question. Several lynx-eyed gentlemen together with the teacheis, who were at the time told to regard themselves as '"constables," opined that the youngster who dared to run the gauntlet of all the spies of this secret seiviee were fully entitled to an illegal holiday. * + ■*■ All the self-constituted sleuth-hounds, with the exception of the teacheis, entered, into the truant^gathering business with vim — and gathered no tiuants. It i« doubtful if any single member of the committees, or any teacher, has put ii a solid lialf-day looking up straggleis since Mr. Varr.ham went out of the truant business. What is the result ° Al l the solioolmosters of Wellington aie annoyed. They have the best of reasons. Caaeless parents aire probably most to blame for the falling off in school attendance since the withdrawal of the truant officer. ¥■ + ■/■ A privilege that can be enjoyed without money is not valued as it should be, and it is necessary to make this boon compulsory. Who - compels" the young scamps who ''play the wag" to attend school p Why the self-constituted policemen, of course This police force has not been a great success. The average attendances are less, and, in consequence, the salaries of masters suffer. There's the rub ' This in itself is sufficient reason why a truant inspector should be at once appointed to enforce attendance.

Not. only do the salaries (which, are not always princely) suffer. The teachers' reputations suffer. A child who attends school in a desultory way cannot be a credit to his teachers, and id is absolutely necessary for the proper grounding of pupils in indispensible subjects that the attendance should be regular. There is no method of regulating it except by the one removed. * * ■* This truancy has been described as a "growing menace to the community." This being so, it is worth three or four pounds a week to grub that "growing mena.ce" out. The work used to be done thoroughly and conscientiously, and, m districts other than Wellington, is still regarded as indispensible. If our educational system is compulsory, it is' an anomaly that pupils are not compelled to accept free instruction. The restitution, of a truant officer is necessary for the well-being of the coming men and women of New Zealand.