PARENTS AND SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 153, 27 December 1911, Page 6

PARENTS AND SCHOOLS.

To the Editor. Sir,—At the breaking-up ceremony at the West End school the chairman (Mr. Gilbert) remarked that "thanks to the teachers holding concerts and placing the money at the committee's disposal the committee were free from debt." This is very creditable to the teachers, parents and committee alike, who seem to show a laudable desire to support their school, and is in marked contrast to the utterances of the chairman of another school not a hundred miles from New Plymouth, who is constantly bewailing the fact that they are impoverished for funds and are unable to do necessary works in connection with the school. Is it that the parents of the children attending this school are so lacking in public spirit or loyalty to their school that they never subscribe a penny towards the school funds, or is it that the committee by means of concerts or other entertainments have never given the parents an opportunity to subscribe? Probably the committee lack the necessary energy or enthusiasm to get a "bustle" on. Take my advice and put your shoulder to the wheel. Work counts some in this world—talk doesn't. I have served years as committeeman in different parts of the Dominion and I always understood it was the duty of committees to support their school even to the extent of raising funds lor its upkeep. Some people, however, are not built that way, and prefer to accept public office simply for the sake of complaining. This is certainly not a good example to set the children and does not tend to raise the "tone" we read so much about.—l am, etc., EX-COMMITTEEMAN.