CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 13 May 1882, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

HOME LESSONS. « TO THE EDITOR, Sir,—l was glad to notice that in your last night's leader you had wisely abandoned the position " That Home Lessons infimd cruelty upon children." This position was manifestly untenable. The issue you now place before tho public is I think a fair one; and one upon which an expression of opinion would be advantageous to all: child, teacher, and parent. I shall therefore make no apology for troubling you upon the matter, feeling assured as I do that you havo the true interests of education at heart,

I agree with Dominie Sarapsmi that the objection of such a parent as youhave supposed, should receive every possible consideration. But, Sir, I would ask "How many parenU take exception to the homelesson system"! Experience has taught me, that the vast majority of parents would be greatly aggrieved if no home lessons wore required from children attendingour public schools. I have received oomplaints from parents that the home lessons set were insufficient, but never a request that they should be entirely discontinued. Granted, however, that there are oases in which parents have a wellgrounded objection to home lessons, then, Sir, I think you will allow that the remedy is in their own hands, and that without resorting to the extreme measure of withdrawing children altogether from the school,

By simply communicating with the teaoher their views would recolve nvery consideration, and their objections wuuld he respected.

Very; many parouts regard Home Lesions with especial favor as affording them an opportunity of readily gauging with the least possible trouble to themselves, the progress being made by their children. With regard to the home lessons themselves, I would point out that you are wrong in assuming that where a child attends irregularly he is required by tho teacher to take a " double dose" as a homo lesson, Teachers of any experience would never dream of setting a child fresh matter to learn in a home lesson. These lessons, to be of any value, must be baaed upon initruction previously received. They are therefore merely teats of tho amount of attention paid by the child to tho daily instruction of his teacher, I am &c, Magister.