Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

Editorial Notes. We are glad that another start is being made in the Rhondda with the Evening Schools. This phase of the educational provision of the country has received the most serious consideration lately of the Consultative Committee of the Board of Education. The reading of the conclusions of the report gives us the most disquiet- ing reflections. The Schools at present in England and Wales are conducted upon the voluntariness of the pupils. They come and go at their own sweet will, and, unhappily, the attendance is most dis- appointing. It is estimated that there are about 211,000 children in the country between the ages of 14 and 18, and the percentage of these who attend our Evening Schools is deplorable. Witness after witness told the Committee that everywhere the attendances of our adolescent youth, both boys and girls, at these Schools are most unsatisfactory. His Majesty's Inspector for the Merthyr district "considered that the failure of boys and girls to continue their education after leaving the Day School was a great drawback to the young people themselves, and seriously affected the general intelli- gence of the community." There is no turning back that statement. The boy or girl who leaves the Day School at the early date which the Rhondda Education Committee, for instance, permit, unless he or she follows the education up by a course in an Evening School, is distinctly at a great disadvantage in the area of life. It is full time for the Rhondda Education Committee to raise the stan- dard of school exemption. It is true that, if the boy is one of late development, or has an early history of neglect, he has to stay on until he is 14 years of age. Mr. Edwards' opinion is that if the standard of exemption were, raised for all to the age of 14, that this in itself would help to improve the attendance at Evening Schools. And further, he says that if they had remained at School till then, they would be much more likely to realise their need for education and go straight on to the Evening Schools." It is not to the credit of the Rhondda Education Committee that, it should be the last Authority in Glamorgan in the matter of exemption. Merthyr was, until recently, in companionship, but last year it raised the qualification of the Labour Examina- tion to the Sixth Standard, and thus left the Rhondda behind all the other County Authorities. The entrance to the colliery is generally 13, and not infrequently 14 years of age. The bulk of the scholars pass the Fifth Standard soon after 12 years of age. Between this and the pit- entering period there is a fearful wastage of past effort and much undoing in that time of the school work done. It is time, therefore, that the Rhondda Education Committee's age of exemption should be raised, and until it is done, it will be useless to expect any great enthusiasm on their part of the Evening Schools. There is a. great cry in the land just now for the instrument of compulsion in respect to the Evening School attendance.- It is too true, as Alderman Morgan Wil- liams said before the Committee in his evidence, that he was afraid that many parents were still very indifferent as regards their children's education, and that boys often did not receive the en- couragement they-ought to get at home." It is quite well known that in the present age the standard of parental control in many of the Rhondda homes one cannot expect much comfort for any reform from the parents. Once the boys and girls begin to earn, they generally" boss" the situation, because they are allowed to do just as they please. The remedy may come from a reformed within, and this can best be created by more education in the Day School. If it will not come in this way, then let us do as they do it in Scotland—apply legal compulsion as in the Day School. Principal Griffiths' evidence was more. retrograde than that of any other South Wales witness. He showed surprising ignorance for one occupying the position of Principal of one of our University Colleges, of a very elementary er"i y fact when he said that in colliery dis- tricts it would be difficult to raise the age where a child of 12 was a real wage- earning person and an important domestic asset." And again, the Principal thinks very little purpose can be served in Con- tinuation Schools generally. As regards boys," he said, who would enter call- ings in which technical knowledge was not required, it was difficult to see what could be done for them in Continuation Schools. What they wanted was training in discipline, morality and manners, rather than school education." He advo- cated compulsion. He would only sug- gest such lessons as Citizenship for them, for" neither they nor their parents would understand the value of this kind of edu- cation since it was of no immediate bene- fit." We are glad to turn from his obscurantism; to the vigorous, refreshing claims of the Labour witnesses, who, with- out exception, viewed the problem in a broad and generous spirit. They, without exception, recognised that the years between 14 and 17 were the settling years when love of education could be planted, and that the social evils resulting from want of educational care between 14 and 17 were increasing. These were the yeans in which habits were formed, and if boys got into bad habits and bad company at this age, it was most difficult to put them right again. Such and many more argu- ments were the bottom reasons urged by Labour. The better educated the worker, the stronger value would he be as a mem- ber of the community. We trust that parents will see to it. It is a good invest- ment, and, as Alderman Morgan Williams observed, even a poor family could not do better than speculate on the education of their children." Absolutely true, there is a potential power in all of us, but it must have education to draw it out.

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The young people of the Rhondda, how- ever, who have any spirit and grit in them, can he grateful for the very elaborate provision already in existence in the Valley in the way of Evening Schools. The table is spread wide before them and classes in every subject which has any bearing; on future practical ideals which are dreamed by the young, are within reach. If there are thousands of r young folks who do allow these oppor- tunities to pass by unavailed, and will not be brought to the water's edge unless the power of the law is applied, it is refreshing to think that there are hun- dreds, though but a small percentage of the whole, who are anxious and eager to avail themselves; and it is some comfort to know that good to the future prospects of this minority will result. The Arch- bishop of Canterbury preached from a very admirable text at Swansea this week It was, "Where there is no vision the\ people perish." Though the sermon moral- ised on the collective aspect of this apothegm applied to individual ambition of noble outlook, it is, equally to the point in this matter. When we see young men and women who have no visions, who do not think of the morrow, of their lives, and who stupidly revel in their present ignorance and indifference, then, true as gospel, those young folks will, in a sense, have perished in a few years, when the manhood stage is reached, and good chances in life gone from them because they have neglected the intel- lectual improvements within their reach in their receptive adolescent age. It will be too late then to do anything but blame themselves for their past foolish and extravagant waste of precious hours of self-culture. But to the young people with live souls we wish the fullest fruition. It is their prime business now to make themselves fit, and remember in all their studies and industry the inspiring maxim that a stone which is fit for the wall will never be left in the wall." The time will come, it may be in this land or far across the seas, when it will be grist to their mill. If they sow now, they will harvest and garner in good time. We were much struck with a proof of this prediction only this week. A Llwynypia young man had the wisdom some years ago to be very faithful in his attendance at Dr. Goelz's: classes, which the County Lecturer in Modern Languages held then, as now, at the Porth Centre. Though a working lad, he had a, soul for visions, and took German in the evening instead of loafing. This month he was on the spot in South Africa where a position was advertised with the German language an essential. He applied and got it with its 920 a month in salary. This young man writes home full of thankfulness to 'Dr. Goelz and the county of his birth for the help he had in his adolescent years. In other subjects similar illustrations can be given. But we would urge very strongly the Mining students who are now preparing under Mr. Samuel, of Treorchy, to keep their eyes on South Anierica-a very El Dorado of mining expansion, and to fit themselves as well with an elemen- tary equipment, at any rate, of the Spanish language. That is the language of South America, and advertised posts in that wide continent place knowledge of Spanish indispensable. Again, only this week a Rhondda foreman mason lost a post there because he was not conversant with the language. In Dr. Goelz, the generous County Authoritv of Glamorgan, whatever may be its shortcomings in Elementary Education, has a splendid reputation in the field of Technical Edu- cation. It also has Spanish classes. Why not in the Rhondda? In education young men and women can have as much as they like. It is about the only property in the country which one can have the quantity he wishes. In the education restaurant you can have unlimited follows." It depends upon the demand; the pantry is never bare. We trust therefore, that the appetite will be a famishing one this winter among, our U gentry of ambition." Space will not permit us to deal speci- fically with the girls. Perhaps next week we shall return to the topic.

Rhondda Evening Classes. I The Evening; Classes which commenced this week have not been as largely at- tended as expected, after the great pre- parations made by the organisers. It seems strange to hear that so many of the Science Technical Classes were so small in number, especially when one con- siders the enormous importance of science to miners and the great progressive strides made during the last few years in the practical application of mathe- matics, chemistry, magnetism and elec- tricity, &c., to the difficult problems which beset the path of every keen and intelligent miner. The increasing use of electricity in our mines, in our streets and in our workshops should naturally lead to greater interest being taken in the Evening Technical. Classes, so many of which have been arranged in our Higher Grade Schools so that full advantage might be taken of the excellent equip- ment of apparatus at the school labora- tories. We trust that Rhondda young men will at once do their best in this direction.

Hockey. After playing a drawn match with Treorchy, the Pentre Hockey Team in- dulged in a, practice match last Saturday afternoon, when the rain did not succeed in damping their energy and ardour. On Saturday next, a team from Pontygwaith will visit Ystrad, and the homesters will make a great effort to win the game and give a good exhibition of hockey. --+-- On Thursday last, Mr. Ralph Williams, an international and Newport Club cap- tain, raised a crack team, five inter- national players being included, to en- counter the Treorchy Eleven on the Big Field." The game as anticipated, resulted in a victory for_ the visitors by 8 goals to 1, W. D. Jenkins scoring for the home- sters. To mark the opening of the new grounds, the visitors, after the match, were entertained to a sumptuous spread at the Institute. Mr. Ralph Williams, the principal speaker, referred in glowing terms to the surprising; display of Tre- orchy, and prophecied them a victorious future. Next Saturday, Treorchy will encounter LIaiigynivyd at home.

Letters to the Editor. --+- Letters on any subject of public interest are cordially invited. The insertion of a letter does not necessarily mean that the Editor agrees with the views ex- pressed therein. Correspondents should write on one side of the paper only, and no letter will be published unless the writer sends his name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarante eof good faith.

Why not a Budget Demonstra- tion for Mid-Rhondda. To the Editor of the Rhondda Leader." Sir,—Permit me a small space in your valuable paper to ask the Rhondda Liberal agent, Why is it that Mid-Rhondda is neglected so much, in not having a demonstration in favour of the Budget? It seems to me that we have to satisfy ourselves by reading the reports in the daily papers of such meetings held in every nook and corner of the country. Now, I think that this populous part of the Rhondda should be considered. The Conservative Party are doing; their utmost to push Tariff Reform down our throats. It is but a few weeks ago that a meeting was held on the De Winton Grounds, under the auspices of the Conservative Association, at which Mr. Fielding, of Manchester, made an attempt to expose the" Boodget" in a manner that was not in accordance with the digestive organs of his audience. I think we should have an opportunity to demonstrate our strength, and have speakers of the first rank to address meetings at Tonypandy. The question is a burning one in Mid- Rhondda. Trusting that this will find its way to the proper tribunal.—I remain, yours, &c.,

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First Aid in the Home. A VALUABLE ARTICLE BY SIR GENILLE CAVE. BART., THE GREAT TRAVELLER. IMPORTANT FACTS FOR MOTHERS. When I sit down and recommend the housewife in the home, the athlete in the field, and the labourer in the workshop to employ Zam-Buk in every suitable emergency, I base my recommendation on the severest test to which a scientific pre- paration could be put. Bruised knuckles, grazed shins, riding sores, and nasty bites from insects are only a few of the mishaps that befall the dweller on the open prairie but perhaps eczema, ulcers, piles, and blood-poisoning are an even greater peril with him than in ordinary civilised life, where supplies of Zam-Buk and other medicine can be had in a few minutes by sending round to your nearest chemist. In all these emergencies, whenever I have used Zam-Buk, I can clearly inform my readers that Zam-Buk has never failed me. In fact, I have been led by repeated tests and experience to hold Zam-Buk in the highest appreciation, and to regard it as providing me with a healing, sooth- ing, and antiseptic agent which I could not obtain in any. other form or under any other name. The beauty about Zam-Buk. besides its ever-ready character, is its unique com- position. I believe it is the only thing of its kind. It is exclusively a herbal pre- paration—an ingenious blending of cer- tain refined herbal juices—and guaranteed free from rancid animal fats and mineral poisons. Zam-Buk is also a highly con- centrated balm and handv because it re- quires no further preparing for use after it has reached the purchaser's hands. If the wound or sore is on the scalp- as in that very common ailment, amongst children, scalp ringworm—the adjacent hair must be cut away with a pair of scissors and the whole of the scalp cleansed carefully, using for preference a tablet of Zam-Buk medicinal soap. Then apply Zam-Buk balm, but change the dressings frequently, and for dressing use clean lint or any soft rag which has been well washed. For burns and scalds a good quality cotton-wool is sufficient, the chief aim here being; to protect the wound from the action of the air as soon as possible after the Zam-Buk has been applied. A little massage with Zam-Buk and a few days' rest are all the necessities of the average sprain, strain, swollen wrist, or weak ankle. While on this point I would like to say what an excellent embrocation Zam-Buk is for the feet when hot and tired. For ordinary cuts, contusions, and bruises, Zam-Buk is simply invaluable. A little Zam-Buk left on a wound for a few minutes lessens, if not entirely stops, the bleeding. I know of this myself, when cut with a razor while shaving. When the bleeding has stopped, dry the wound and dress it with Zam-Buk when all inflammation and pain will be arrested, and Nature's wonderful healing process with Zam-Buk's aid cheerfully begun. I speak of Zam-Buk as I have found it on repeated occasions for testing it, and I am concerned less with its unique composition than I am with the practical fact that it always justifies the claims made for it, and is not only an ever-ready, balm, but one of far-reaching usefulness."

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