THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED MONDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. MONDAY JULY 19, 1915. CONTINUATION SCHOOLS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 58, 19 July 1915, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED MONDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.

MONDAY JULY 19, 1915. CONTINUATION SCHOOLS.

" We nothing extenuate, nor set down auaht in malice."

An endeavour is being made to strictly enforce th 3 regulations lor compulsory attendance of young per son?, between the ages ot 14 and 17, resident in Pukekohe, at the continuation clsses. In most towns such regulations, like many other enactments, are observed as a dead It tier and no attepmt is made to put them into operation. Why Pukekohe shculd be made an exception ana a system, practically of tyranny, shoulj be invoked is hard to understand. Yet so-called final notices were sent by post tc the younger generation ot Pukekohe last week, signed "J. P. Kalaugher, Supervisor," threatening prosecution in case of failure to attend the classes. It is true that certain provisions are made in the reflations for exemption from attendance, namely by illness or by reason of employment directly alftcting the livelihood of the tamily of which the joung pjrson is a member. In the latter case, hovever, it is obvious that the Supervi or may in his wisdom not consider that a ycu"g person's earnings are vitally necessary to the family concerned and a delicate poi't thereby arises, but th? matter should be looked at in a broirder sense. Can it be reasonably claimed that young persona engaged in business are not deriving better education thereby than by mere attendance at a continuation class? Simple arithmetic and reading are the subjects taught at the clias in Pukekohe. Let is cite a case of which we have knowledge. A young girl, served with one of the notices referred to, has made great progress as a book-keeper in a certain business establishment and is already well versed in accountancy. Yet Bhe is called upon to take up simple arithmetic at the continuation class. Then agßin three junior membirs of the Puke-' kohe postal staff a*e notified that they must attend the classes. Surely their postal duties give them bitter education than they can gain ot sch(ol. Since the

cia's.'H are new in me anernoon, viz., cn Mondays from 4.<io p.m. to G. 30 p.m., inconvenience to employers would reasonably cause

| employment to be determined. But even if the classes were fixed for evening hours it would be inadvisabl \ as well as objectionable, for lads and girls, having spent a full day at business, to be compelled to be weaned at night with study of little or no actual value. The slothful or ignorant youth or girl might with advantage be dealt with at the classtb, but those of industrious habits, who have started on a business life, should be placed outside the former 'a pale.