“PLAY-WAY” ATTITUDE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29384, 10 December 1960, Page 15

“PLAY-WAY” ATTITUDE

Effect On Young People Of N.Z.

The increasingly harmful effect on the younger generation of New Zealand’s characteristic “play-way" attitudes of comfort, security and responsibility was emphasised by the headmistress of the Avonside Girls’ High School (Miss V. F. Townshend) in her annual report presented at the school’s prize-giving ceremony in the Civic Theatre last evening.

"Our young people have their part to play and can only do it admirably if they are given the right incentives," said Miss Townshend.

“But I must confess I sense a growing tendency among some' of our more recent recruits to be less prepared to work as hard as their predecessors and, even among the most able, a reluctance to prepare for the more demanding career.

“For this. I blame our national love of comfort, security and a good time before all else; as a' people we like responsibility less and less, we too practise the ‘playway.’ “What else, therefore, can we expect of our young people? I cannot say too emphatically that if they are given worth-while challenges in the course of their everyday life and play, if ’ they are encouraged to give of themselves fully and happily without mercenary thought of getting something in return for everything they do. our present generation of pupils are just as responsive in the past." she said. It was to be hoped that as the pupils left school and moved out into the wider community, they would find continued expression for their fine energies, gifts and ideals, in an environment where there were worth-while challenges, and healthy attitudes to steady, honest work and responsibility, said Miss Townsend.