The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1918 CONTINUATION CLASSES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 380, 31 May 1918, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1918 CONTINUATION CLASSES.

" We nothing extenuate, nor let down anoht in malice."

The weakness of the regulations governing night school or continuation class instruction was made evident during a case heard at the Pukekohe Court yesterday, as reported elsewhere in this issue, in which a father was prosecuted in respect of the alleged gross misconduct of his son. The facts, in brief, were thai the boy, who was apparently "an objector " to the system of education wilieh enforced his attendance at a night school after he had finished his ordinary school career and was engaged in business pursuits, sought to make the teacher an object of ridicule to the scholars. On a technical point the charge as laid was dismissed although the actual circumstances as described bv the teacher were uncontested.

The weakness of the system of continuation classes was, however, exposed in more than one aspect. In the first place it was revealed that although tlie boy whilst at the day school had passed the nth Standard the instruction given htm at the night school was of a nth Standard nature with the result that the lessons naturally became dull and uninteresting to him. Furthermore, it appeared that although at a day school a headmaster is empowered to chastise an offending pupil a teacher at the continuation classes is powerless to punish any ot his scholars, who also cannot be personally proceeded against. .A parent is the sole person that can be prosecuted and in any event he (or she) can only be ordered to enter into a surety !ot h : s lor her) offspring to lie <>! good behaviour, which on the far- 1 of it ;<-• nntnir to the parent who cannot in t ie ordinary cotnsc ot thing-, altogether control a buy ort• ir 1 that is fitting up in years. Continuation Classes may be jotiud in theory but it seems doubtful if n practice they bring about the desired results. The industrious and willing pupil that desires to get on in tlie wnrld would of his own accord attend the technical hi 101 hut it ha - \et to be found thai nth''!-., who are and reluctant, derive anv advantage'

from the night school even if they are compelled to attend. Then again the teacher's task in dealing with such " objectors " is an unenviable one. Possibly for these reasons continuation classes are not ia vogue in Auckland city.