INGLEWOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1921, Page 7

INGLEWOOD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Nov. 18. In the report of the last meeting of the Inglewood School Committee, published in a recent issue of the Daily News, mention was made of the report by Dr. Gunn of the very deplorable state of the teeth of many of the school pupils, and of remarks by one of the committee on the desirability of inaugurating some form of compulsory cleaning o-f teeth in protection of the general health of the school. This item of local news attracted the attention of one, at lea-st, of the News’ many readers, for “Your Own” was accosted a few days ago by a parent from a country school district," who said that while he was quite in accord with the theory of compulsory teeth cleaning, as letter than no cleaning at all, he had found, by experience, that eareful supervision would be needed to prevent more harm than good resulting from such a rule being enforced. In an instance that had come under his own observation the children’s tooth brushes were huddled together indiscriminately after one day’s use, to await the next day’s requirements, and not infrequenUy a child lost his proper brush for a day or more. Discussion of the matter with the parent led to the conclusion that in this, as in many other ways, the parents and guardians of children are only too prone to delegate their duties to the teachers at the school, who, having nothing much else to do, could easily attend to a little thing of this kind. That is, nothing but just see their pupils, one and all, are attentive to theii school lessons, assiduous in their studies. obedient and well behaved, decently clean in person, not obviously in illhealth. and of good behaviour within school bounds. Some parents even holding that the teachers should be held responsible for the behaviour of their pupils on the way and from school, morning and afternoon, be they going as far as they may, in directions as varying as the spokes of a wheel, or subject to ever so undermining example when actually at home. Still rhe teacher and the system, |hat awful secular system, are held responsible ro-r all shortcomings, while, in actual fact, whether it be in matters of health, tooth-cleaning. or discipline. prompt obedience, or of good, decent manners, the praise or blame for results belong more to those whose home influence is on a ratio of about 19 to 5 in time, not counting the holidays when the schools arc closed; and until the parents realise this, the educational cult of the nation must be playing a very uphill game, while receiving much unearned blame-

the country is full of them—are up against teetotallers. A young fellow appiyino* for a milker’s job was asked if he drank beer? “No.” “Well, whisky or wine, then?” “No.” “Well, ye’ll only be drinking my milk, and I canna afford to take you on!” About one seat in three is occupied on the Main Trunk trains, and the teadrinking habit, so noticeable at the various stops, appears to be a lost art.

Around Marton oat crops are coming into ear, the straw being short and stunted, something over a foot high. An outstanding crop over four feet in length, and not yet in ear, is seen from the" Bruntwood-Matorangl Road. “The ambition of every English milk farmer is to possess a 20.0001 b cow,” said the late president of the English Society. There are only twenty in Britain, one Shorthorn and nineteen Holsteins (23 in New Zealand, all Holsteins). He added that in the Queensland hinterland a cow giving lOSlbs daily had been dug out. She was owned by a small selector, and will shortly be on her way to England. Three shipments from South Africa have gone home, and New Zealand breeders dread that their best cows will follow suit. That farmers are not business men is shown clearly by Mr. Massey raising the fares to fill empty carriages and doubling the excise duties to raise, more revenue. Business men would cut the prices 50 per cent., and in proof of that an up-to-date New Plymouth merchant has cut his prices to meet the market 1400 per cent, (on one line). Mr. Massey would have it put up 200 per cent