A WISE CHOICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 5, 28 March 1927, Page 11

A WISE CHOICE

CHILD WELFARE SCHOOLS AUCKLAND WOMAN’S VIEWS That a wise choice has been made of managers and teachers for the special schools and institutions in the South Island under the care of the Child Welfare Department is the opinion of Mrs. N. E. Ferner, an associate of the Children’s Court at Auckland. Mrs. Ferner has just returned from a tour of the schools and institutions in the South Island, and has expressed her appreciation of the modern system of correcting and educating delinquent juveniles. An endeavour has been made to create a healthy, happy atmosphere, she said, and in a number of cases the children are happier than they would be in their own homes, where, on account of their temperament, they were “misfits.” Those in charge of the schools and institutions were fully conscious of the needs of the child. The old idea of harsh treatment had quite disappeared, and could not be compared with the ideals existing to-day. The homes were comfortable and scrupulously clean and the diet was a generous one. Specially trained teachers, who thoroughly understood the needs of the children, were in charge of the schools and institutions and the confidence with which the children approached their teachers was proof of the benefits derived from the system. A great deal of attention was given to physical exercise and the children in the institutions had shown an improvement in their happy surroundings. Folk dancing was also taught. The old idea of punishment had gone completely; the whole idea of reformative work was to improve the character.