OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 June 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

WORK IN THE SCHOOLS

(To the Editor)

Sir—Re Mr E. G. Coddington’s letter about the exhibition of children’s work prior to the Centennial Exhibition, people do remember it, and did greatly admire it. Eut why aren’t the children kept up to this high standard? Any person can turn out perfect work afcei spending hours of time on one subject or article, and each child naturally puts forth his or her best work for exams, displays, etc., but when one sees their everyday writing, hears their speech and listens to their spelling, one is amazed that school has done so little in these subjects. I believe Mr Gair said that the children (the College I think was referred to) have arithmetic three hours a week. To my way of thinking arithmetic is an essential for every boy and girl who must earn their living and 11 hours every day is not too much. For any teacher to point out that 1| hours spent on sums would not allow other subjects to be taught, won’t hold water, because the morning talks could be cut out and the stories, read by the teacher to the class, cut down 75 _ per cent. I have not hitherto written anything on this subject and sign myself — “ANONYMOUS.” Masterton, June 17.