CRITICISM OF SCHOOL- GIRLS' BAD POSTURE

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5284, 21 December 1946, Page 3

CRITICISM OF SCHOOLGIRLS' BAD POSTURE

'Annually at this time school breakups loom largely in the public mind. The speeches delivered at the several seeondary schools in Auckland last week provided thought for reflective and meditative parents. Few who had girls attending schools could have sat undisturbed when they heard the headmistress qf the Auckland Girls' Grammar School speak of the deterioration of the "carriaige and walk" of sehoolgirls, especially so when the headmistress laid' the major blame on parents. "In spite of the niore -interesting and exciting drill that is being taught in schools," said the 'headmistress, "the carriage and walk of girls seems to grow steadily worse. It is largely the resul.t of t'he indifference of parents to the way their daughters sit or stand at home." There had been a time, she said, when parents were constantly correcting slovenly postures and ungraceful attitudes; Now they pinned all their faith to three hours' drill each vyeek to correct the otilier t)5 hours of crouching over books and' lolling in easy chairs. T'he headmistress carried her admonition further in a general reference to schooling. 'She asked parents to give the school support and not to be mereiy content with -handing oer the girls and expect the staff to work miracles unaided. There were parents who thought that as long as they paid for sclhool books tliey could sit in judgment on the results of the teaching, • s'he said. Unaided, the staff was expected to teach a gjrl to reason, acquire theoretical knowledge and .practical skill, P(lay games, speak correctly, behave eourteously, act with propriety, walk erectly, eat politely, respect property and choose amusements sensibly. The staff was blamed for failures, yet the schooT controlled the girl for only .five hours daily, as against the 19 hours she was in her parents' care.