Reuter's correspondent, writing on August 21st, gives a most satisfactory
account of the work done at the school attached to the Barberton refugee camp in the past twelve- month. The instruction was at first given by local ladies, whose enthusiasm and zeal are highly praised, and in April trained teachers arrived from England. The stimulating effect of the Kindergarten system has been especially marked, the boys have taken most kindly to games, excellent results have been achieved in the singing classes, and, best of all, a cordial attachment •has sprung up between the children and their British teachers. Where possible "the school is opened with a Dutch prayer and hymn, but the parents, as a rule, have appeared content to leave the religious instruction of their children in the hands of the headmaster." At the present moment the majority of the children are returning to the farms with their parents, and some time must elapse before any definite system of farm schools can be organised. To bridge this gap and prevent education coming to a stand- still, the Repatriation Board now offer free rations to be issued at their various depots to the children of parents who have gone back to their farms, provided the children regularly attend a district or town Government school. The offer has already met with an appreciative response ; but it cannot be overlooked that, in the present scarcity of native labour, children are of real help to their parents on the farms.
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