NEGLECT OF EDUCATION.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 June 1918, Page 3

NEGLECT OF EDUCATION.

An extraordinary case of family neglect of education was brought before the Otago Education Board in a report from the truant officer there. There are.no fewer than 14 which belong to the Sutton district, and only one of the 14 has reached as far as the Fourth Standard. The oldest, a lad of 21 years of age, now at the front, has nassed only the Second Standard; the second, aged 19, passed the Second Standard; the third pass-' ed the Third Standard; and the sixth, aged 15, passed the Second. These five latter are ah working at home. Of the seven of school age, the eldest, a girl of 12 years and nine months, has passed the Second Standard, and none of the remaining six has passed any Standard at all. The youngest of the family is three years old. The father was recently brought before two Justices of the Peace, who commented in strong terms on his amazing indifference to his children’s welfare, and expressed regret that they could impose no penalty as defendant lived beyond the prescribed distance of three miles from the school. The case was adjourned, however, pending the next sitting of a magistrate in the district. In the meantime, the father has promised to make application for a capitation grant for driving his children to school, and to send them regularly in future.