OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14902, 16 February 1914, Page 2

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THE EFFECT ON GIRL PUPILS

A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION

(special to "tub r&Ess.")

AUCKLAND, February H.

That the education system in rogue in New Zealand is not responsible for nervous and mental debility in girl pupils, in spite of the opinions expressed by prominent doctors at the Medical Congress, is the declaration of four prominent local tutors. According to the principals of the Boys' Grammar School, and the director of technical training, and of Dr. Thomas, of the Choral Society, eye strain and physical unfitness axe the result of causes outside the school. In the large majority of cases, says these authorities, the girl pupils in the schools average a good standard of physical and mental fitness, as compared with those of other countries. "The trouble is not so much in echool work as in the girls' mad rush after pleasure and excitement after «:bool hours are over," is 'the opinion of Mr J. TV. Tibbs, principal of the Boys' Grammar School. "1 was head of the Auckland Grammar School for thirteen years, and I know practically nothing of physical or mental breakdowns or eve 6train as a rt?sult of our existing educational system. The girl who works steadily at school, and foregoes excesses of any description, is in a better condition to undertake the duties of womanhood than the girl who is always rushing after gaiety." Dr. Thomas, conductor of the Choral Society, referring to the statement made by Dr Lindo Ferguson, of jjunedia, that the strain of preparation for 'musical examinations was disastrous in its Teeuhs. said: —"Never in my experience have I known of a case where musical education has been detrimental to the pupil. I have never had a pupil who has worked hard enough to suffer from any mental troubles. Two or three hours a day ie the average length of the lesson, and this has never been too much for any of my pupils.

Hiss Butlrr, principal of the Girls' brammar School, while expressing the opinion that there was a large amount of truth in the npfertions of T>r. Murray Leslie that eon'ie girls suffered from the strain of school work, said 'that a lot depended on thp mniinor in which the pupils were handled by the inspectors. Every care, said, was taken jat her school to wntc'n the crrowth and development of the ci'rJs, and immediate action was takfin when any symptoms of curvature of the spine or eve Avenknpes manifested themselves. "Mv opinion rersirding pye stnu". an<l weakness," she add<»d. ''is that it is caused more from dust than an.vt.hing else.*'