The Parents' Review

A Monthly Magazine of Home-Training and Culture

Our Work.

Kendal Branch--A paper was read by Robert Somervell, Esq., M.A., Assistant Master of Harrow School, on Wednesday, September 7; subject: Lessons before School--Hints on the First Stage of Education.

Do all our readers know that, according to the Rules of the Society, an annual payment of 5s. secures the privileges of membership? But it is less for what they would get, than for what they would give that we earnestly invite all our readers to become members of the P.N.E.U. By becoming members, they would identify themselves with an important work, and would be able to spread the Society and the Parents' Review far more effectually than is possible to non-members. A nucleus of a few members in any neighbourhood would probably be the beginning of a branch; and it would be difficult to over-estimate the value to parents of a good working branch of a society in their neighbourhood. Payments should be made to the Hon. Organising Secretary, Henry Perrin, Esq., 67, Broadhurst Gardens, N.W., who will gladly forward cards of membership. A payment of 10s. includes subscription to the Parents' Review, which is forwarded by post to subscribers (through Mr. Perrin). If any of our friends would like to help the work of the Society by sending a larger subscription, such kind help would be very gladly received by the Hon. Organising Secretary. We may add that funds are urgently needed to enable the Committee to carry on the work of the Society with due vigor. They are not able to overtake the openings for work that present themselves, chiefly because their funds do not allow them to engage a paid secretary to deal with the necessarily large correspondence.

Dr. Schofield's Memorial--We hope our readers have made good use of the opportunities the holidays have afforded them of getting signatures for this important memorial. Probably no conceivable measure would do more for the public health and consequent happiness than this, of introducing the teaching of Hygiene into Girls' High Schools. The girls brought up in these schools would be taught to observe the Laws of Health for themselves, to spread the knowledge of these laws in their families, to bring up children, when their turn comes, on sound Hygienic principles, and to be centres of light and teaching hereafter among their poorer neighbours. We should necessarily have an end of over-pressure, because it would be hardly possible to teach the laws of health intelligently, and to fail to observe these laws; and the examiners themselves would come to consider more and more in drawing up a syllabus of work, whether it can be carried out with due regard to the health of the students. In the meantime, we must bring strong pressure to bear on the Examiners, and we hope to get a monster memorial, the very sight of which will convince these learned gentlemen that the parents of English children are seriously in earnest in their wish to have their children taught to take care of the wonderful and beautiful machinery each one is entrusted with. We again entreat our readers to exert themselves in this matter. It might save some trouble, in collecting signatures by post, to paste signatures and addresses on a sheet of paper the width of the Parents' Review. Sheets of signatures should be sent to Dr. Schofield, 41 Westbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, W., or to the Editor, by November 3.
[This doesn't sound like a memorial mourning the decease of Dr. Schofield, but a project Dr. Schofield was working on.]

The House of Education--We have to report satisfactorily of our work. The students who have been doing probationary work during the long vacation, have been very successful, so much so that a little complication arises; they were already provided with engagements, and the families who have had them in the holidays are anxious that they should return to their holiday posts after Christmas.

We begin the short term with treble the number of students we had in January; but we by no means overtake the demand.

The Fésole Club--The subject for October last year was "Contrast," to be illustrated by a fruit study. This year, for variety, let us take any illustration that may be convenient. Those who have not done this bit of still-life described in the Fésole Club Paper No. VII. ("The Team of Phaethon") will do well to try it, after careful reading of the article. But the principle of Contrast may be shown in any other set of objects: you may paint a heap of books on a table, instead of the fruit, arranging big books to contrast with little ones, the blue with the brown, the light with the dark, some standing up and some lying flat, and so forth. Or, a group of flowers may be so arranged as to set off the colour, the tone, the size, the shape, the character of each by its opposite. Anything that you can arrange will do to illustrate this subject: for the Contrast that is to be studied this month must be intentional, and not the result of happy accident. The best marks will be given to the sketch that illustrates the principle of contrast in the most striking and complete manner.

Drawings to be sent to W. G. Collingwood, Lanehead, Coniston, Lancashire, by the end of October.

The Parents' Review School has begun its second year's work with ever-increasing popularity. It is a source of great satisfaction that the school should be of so much use, not only to parents in England, who are within reach of other help, but to those in out-of-the-way districts--in Ceylon, South Africa, New Zealand, South India, U.S.A., &c.

The Parents' Review--Are our readers making earnest and urgent efforts to increase our circulation? What we must regard as our probationary year has not long to run. Let us repeat that we constantly receive letters expressing gratitude to those friends who first introduced the writers to the Parents' Review.

The Mothers' Education Course--We find that this course is greatly appreciated: members may join at any time, and the three years' study will be dated from the time they enter. Particulars may be had from the Editor.

Obituary--We have to record the death of a valued friend and indefatigable helper of our work. The death of the Rev. Edward Wynne leaves a gap which it will not be easy to fill. He has been intimately associated with the work from the beginning; indeed, the lectures on "Home Education," which originated the whole scheme, were given under his kind auspices and to help a parochial work. From that date until his lamented death we have always found in Mr. Wynne an able counselor and a most kind, cordial, and indefatigable friend to the cause in which he took so lively an interest. He worked hard as a member of the council of the P.N.E.U., and most generously undertook the post of Hon. Sec. when he was little fit for its duties. This is not the place to speak of Mr. Wynne's personal qualities, nor of personal sorrow for his loss.

Proofread by LNL, August, 2023