Strange Attitude.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 5

Strange Attitude.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES.

[Per Press Association.] Feildiug, January 17

A strange communication was received last night by the Wanganui Education Board Horn the Education Department in reply to a letter from the Board. It appears that recently the Board asked the Department to issue special attendance certificates for pupils who had earned five firstclass or second-class attendance certificates provided by the Department. Replying to this, the Inspector-ffun-eral wrote that it was not considered advisable for children and parents to lie encouraged to strive after such a faultless attendance as that represented by first-class certificate, much less a series of such certificates during the child’s school career. It was possible that in many cases it would be better for the child to stay at home.

Copies of the correspondence have been forwarded by the Board to the Minister of Education, and Mr Allen is to be asked if the Inspector-Gen-eral's letter had his approval.

On December 29th the Secretary of Education .wrote to the Board stating that the Minister approved of Mr Hoghen’s letter.

The chairman of the Board remarked that the attitude of thb Minister and the Department was very strange in face of the legislation passed at the instance of the Department, making attendance compulsory at primary schools.