LARRIKINISM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2655, 18 July 1889, Page 2

LARRIKINISM.

Oi'li Te Awamutu correspondent writes as follows A good deal has been said and written on this subject, but no one has yet callcd attention in the columns of the Press to the pernicious practice permitted in sorno schools of tho indiscriminate mingling of boys and girls in tho playground. Colonial youths aro not celebrated for refinement of manners or language, and, as a consequence, the girls hear, and in time come to hear with indifference, expressions that would shock any person possessed of tho slightest delicacy or refinement. Not only are children of both sexes allowed to play together, but no supervision of any kind is exercised over them during play time; consequently the boys please themselves in the matter of slang, oaths and vulgarisms. Many teachers perforin their duties most conscientiously, and keep a watchful eye upon their pupils in and out of schools, but some appear to think that their duty begins and ends by imparting instruction within the walls of the schoolroom. One's ears are often shocked by language of school boys when at play, language that would most befit the tap-room or some low public house in the back slums of a town. Under these circumstances can anyone feel surprised at the reluctance of parents to subject their daughters to the contaminating influences of our public schools? It is bad enough to know that their sons learn how to swear and use obscene language, but it is infinitely worse to know that their daughters hear such coarseness daily and so become prematurely wise. Parents are as much to blame as lax teachers, for wholesome homo influences are utterly disregarded in many cases. Children are allowed to wander about the streets at their own sweet will, and if a teacher heard one making use of bad language and caned him for it in school next day, the parents would be up in arms at once. Colonial parentshave no idea of what corporeal punishment, is like in Great Britain, where it is ten times as severe as it is in colonial schools, and the boys are all tho better for it. If no regulation for keeping tlio sexes apart during play time exists, then the Board should make one and the committees should see that it is enforced.