JUNIOR RED CROSS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 116, 2 June 1937, Page 6

JUNIOR RED CROSS

Visit of Sisier Stringer to Hastings RE0RGANISATI0N WORK Sister Stringer, JDominion organiser of the Junior Hed Cross Movement in New Zealand, arrived in Hastings by yesterday's express train from Wellington, withi the "ihtention of reorganip sing the Junior Hed Cross work in the schools and colleges situate in the district. In other parts of the country, the work is growirig apace, and the local sub-centre of the Hed Cross Society is indeed fortunate in securing the services of Sister Stringer at the present tjme. In other parts of the world, the Junior Red Cross has progressed to such an extent that the total world membership now exceeds 20,000,000. It is interestdng to note that this figure incidentally exceeds the total of senior membership in ]the Red Cross, Society by no less that 5,000,000. The present method of organisation in New Zealand js a departure from the "Circle" method previously adopted, and Sister Stringer's " efforts will be directed towards enrolling schools as a whole, Briefly summarised, the Junior Red Cross aims to foster the ideals of health, serviee and International friendliness among the school children alorig the following lines: — In the first place, the Junior Red Cross aims at helping teachers and parents to form sound health habits in children at an early age and the value of the movement in health, as in other objects, lies .largely in the motive and interest wliich it creates. In the second place, the Junior Red Cross has a definite contribution to make towards inculcating in the minds of onr school pupfis, the idea of serviee for others. For example, " children should be encouraged to earn and not beg for funds and -m'aterials required in tbeir work." So, too, children may learn to think of "others "by " gifts of flowers, mended toys, books etc.,- or. hy "adopting" some sick or crippled ckild; visiting that' child in hospital,/giving picnics or entertainments to orphanages and children' s • institutions, ' co-operating in the keeping olean and tidy of school premises "and property, or 'of providing a first-aid outfit for. the use of school pupils. International Friendliness Perhaps now, as • neV.er before, it is* necessary to cultivate a spirit of International Friendliness among the school children of all coiintries. These children are the. potential citizens and leaders* of tbe futufe,' and the Junior Red Cross, witli * membership' in over 50 countries — national, yet International— can ■ and • does link up these children in a chain of serviee which stretches round the world. This chain is madp.very real by tbe system Of correspondence . witbin the Junior Red Cross movement-r^a . system which circulates- between -tbe schools - of "different countries, and whichi -usuaily takes tbe form of an interchange of portfolios. Tbe latter are bound copies of the children's efforts • in one particular school or district, and contain material depicting the history, geography, scenery, manufactures, g-ames and life of the district wherein they are compiled. When fully illustrated* with- appropriate drawings, paintings, photographs, etc., exfecuted or "collected by the children, these portfolios are an excellent record of the district they purport to deseribe, and wlien headed by a joint invitation to the schoolchildren of another country to peruse saine, .they serve an excellent purpose. ilauy foJk in all parts of tbe world have expfessed tlieir astonishment at learning so much about other countries tbrough this medium. Moreover, tbe preparation. and receipt of these portfolios serves as a useful.aid in the teaching of history and geography, in the schools. it is to be Jioped, therelore, that with the co-operation of the Health and Education Departments, Sister Stringer's visit to Hastings will not have been.in vain, and tbat tbe establisbinent of the Junior Red Cross Movement in this district will prove to' be "that free spirit whicb -quickens the life of the whole school."