THE CRAMMING EVIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 304, 20 December 1912, Page 4

THE CRAMMING EVIL.

s____T OS GKOWTSG s_k_i. SPECIALISATIO-.- A M_STA__-. The " cramming " evil, with sped_l m. ference to its deplorable effects on yot_» growing girls, was a subject touch.! upon by Miss Butler (head___tres« of the Girls' Grammar School) i n fee- _? nual report submitted at the ;*__*n_. ceremony last night. ** To she said, " we are still ov e rburdeneolr__ examinations in the Middle School __ the pressure exerted on young gro»_ girls of from fourteen to* sixteen y__f of age is to be deplored. But t_ere_ an evil of another kind which e_-ai_m» tions bring in their train, unless sae<__ precautions are taken to avoid thiss e_ I speak of the system of in the avoidance of this evil a judiciota parent can give much help. Girls are allowed to sit up in the last term and work far too late: letters are sent __> ing that they may be excused from _I subjects except those in which they arc sitting for examination. Such reqaerta seem to mc to be in direct opposition to true education. As to the question of specialisation immediately before an examination, I think that it is a grievo_i mistake; a child should be taught that examinations are merely milestones 01 the road to knowledge, and that there a only one examination room, and that _ the world, and one examination n_n__. life—and therefore while she is in t_» schoolroom, every subject is imporU_f and she cannot afford to sacrifice tar branch of knowledge. If this were insisted upon, I feel sure that _ truer and fuller education would be the hv suit."