SCHOOL UNIFORM AND OTHER THINGS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 416, 13 June 1947, Page 5

SCHOOL UNIFORM AND OTHER THINGS

Sir-I am probably among a great number of women with daughters at school who will not agree with the writer of the article in your issue for May 23 on school uniforms. Most of us realise the useful and good reasons for school uniforms, without my further stressing them. Also the discipline such may entail is very good for growing girls. I cannot believe that every Canadian girl is so completely » lawless as E, A. Miles would have us believe. Anarchy is all very well when. persons are old enough to reason it out for themselves, and provided they believe in such; but most of us feel it is our duty to our daughters to attempt to bring them up sensibly in readiness for the years when they will be old enough to judge what path _- will take for themselves.

L.

ARMSTRONG

(Remuera).

Sir,-The wearing of a uniform is one type of discipline-a good one. A 14-year-old schoolgirl may not like wearing gloves and long black stockings, but it is a mild example of one of the many more unpleasant’ things that she will have to do all her life. It is only until about half-past four each day that she will be forced to feel "unattractive" ‘in long black stockings. (which. make her legs look slim), gloves, no jewellery and no lipstick or rouge (though why she should need these cosmetics with the . youthful skin and colouring she should have, I do not know). Certainly the uni- | form of most of our New Zealand public schools is unserviceable. Navy blue is the hardest colour to keep clean of spots and fluff and box-pleated tunics take a long time to press. At my own school we have no restrictions placed on hair styles, which is a pity, as some hair is really sickening to look at. I have been to a school where "mufti" was worn, and at my present school we wear uniform. At the first school there was a noticeable difference even in the popularity of the better-dressed girls. All these differences are now entirely absent

because of the uniform and I believe that the school is the better for it. Also I have noticed that the girls who are "silliest" about the opposite sex ate the ones who have no brothers. The fault here does not lie with the teachers or the school regulations, as these same girls are allowed to speak to boys on the street, and they mix with them freely at dancing classes, etc., in the winter and. at games, occasionally, in the summer. "SIXTH FORMER" Cnvercargill).