ATHLETICS FOR GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 191, 12 August 1921, Page 2

ATHLETICS FOR GIRLS.

STRENUOUS GAMES INJURIOUS. An interesting observation by a higib scihool teacher on the subject of "Atliftetics for Girls ajwl Women," beariiiir the signature "V. Oowdroy, C'roiieji End High School and College, London, S." appears iv the "LJameat," of May 14. Die writer states that slvo hud oetrively supported tilie right of wwmen to vote, ami had entertained tho belief that "sex was more or less incidental, and. that a welMrained wwnia.il could do anything il niflm couM, nn'lcss, .pcrfiiaps, when it whs I'xeiitiiijT sihctr pbjisicail force." .Slie lrad 'been a, strong advocate of physical culture Kind training for girls. But yenrs of experience and of S'iKs who took u|> wiliM they regarded as bay* gumes—hockey, ami oven cricket—fed her t*i change 'her views. The girls seemed to di'terioni'te in character under sudh trainintf. "I daw," gibe says, "'that the yeuiift women joiuing in strenuous games befame of hard mueeieii, a set jaw, llait dhest, and often a. Im.rd aggressive manner and an iinjrainly ctutrfoge, A ginl's body is more elastic, more variable, nnd nvore easily ailtwed .than that of a boy. Nor should ii bo forgotten that tlie' organs jure more easily displaced. The attempt to make a boy of the girl bus led to the fult of the 'boyish , fi"ure with undeveloped breasts. fc'o miic-h for their appearance. lint tue heaSth of lilies? atihiletia women is often more α-pponcnt Mian real- They frequently suffer from nerves (manifested in irritable tempera), from lieart trouble, from some furiu of rheuinaitism, or from dispiainnent of some Kind. SLoine-timea the monthly disability that rfrould prove them women stops for long periods. I When there is any unaccustomed strain upon them they do no.t seem able to ' r ".' p {- "• Their marriages are often uinldless. and I huve many times board wfliem a uviiMn ha< lost a i4ii!d or had a I particularly diiflic-ult eonflneaurot. «irI pris,. expressed. 'She was such a fine etronj. girl.' or 'One would think an athletic girl sudi as she woilld Ih> up -iml out almost at oru-e, like v woman.' I have beton sorry to boo the physical inferiority of iJ.iUren of sporting mothers, 'they often htmg nervous, and t'lie motiher becoiniin.,' co jus well sometimes. Tihoy oompk.ro badly with the staJwact sons <>f many a slight feminine woman produced In Victorian ' I nvvilluigly I lmvo been convinced l.v t'"' logic of experience. Strenuous ji inu-s I iK-lu-vc in<\ for the womiin anil wSrso for the girl. And tile soonor it fa realised that tile diileT-eTice between tho sexes are profound ami vital and b.wit these differences are accentuated aixi no. lessened by evolution, tlie better for humanity. Ufr , t , w rwoCTifeed tu:..t tiro present <-,iit is a retrogression, ••■id the younp ffirl have placed heforo "cr ll;c ide-n! of true ntimumliooil of all the <|i;,a!ities that make for motherhood- " J?' 11 *' "''"•«'" she has a.e r ~wn family or linds happiness in some oMier snhore .-i>o may α-ealiso iD is he,- ™ift o f IZ IZrU.-- U ' at mftkeS llor of ™ hl " in