College P.T.A. Issues Behaviour Guide

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30807, 20 July 1965, Page 2

College P.T.A. Issues Behaviour Guide

In no circumstances should alcohol or smoking be permitted at school children’s functions. Any guest offending should be asked to leave. This is one of the recommendations in a code for the guidance of parents of school girls attending social functions.

The code, issued by a committee of the St. Margaret’s College ParentTeacher Association, is not intended as a set of rules, but as a list of suggestions to guide parents and their daughters attending the school.

"There is concern at the growing practice of school children in groups going to coffee houses in town after the pictures,” the guide says. "The committee feels this should be discouraged, as unpleasant scenes could arise with other groups of teenagers. This does not apply to, say, two or three who are unlikely to attract attention visiting a coffee house.” The committee considers that girls should be taken to and from social functions, although several girls might go in one car. “All functions should end

at a fixed time. Among other things, this has the advantage of parents knowing when to call for their daughters,” the guide says. When the time for ending the function is not definite, arrangements should be made for an adult to telephone one or more named parents, who would then advise other parents by previous arrangement, to call for their daughters. Country Parties School children should not be allowed to go into the country for parties without

adult supervision en route. They should go in groups, and with each group there should be at least one, or preferably two cars, containing adults. Invitations should be issued by parents and not by their children. This does not apply to official school functions, the code says. At all functions more than one adult should be present at all times. Children should not be permitted to go outside at a function, nor allowed to leave the premises. In no circumstances should alcohol or smoking be permitted at school children’s functions. Any guest offending should be asked to leave. The house or hall where the party is being held should be adequately illuminated at all times. The committee feels that parties during term time should be kept to a minimum, as most boys and girls have School Certificate and University Entrance examinations during their last two years at school. Many parents are also concerned about the “rash” of parties which occur at the beginning of the December holidays and sometimes in the May holidays. "The committee realises this is a difficult matter to regulate, but considers it absurd that there should be held in December, for instance, dances on six consecutive nights. Most of the same people attend the same dances and it would seem reasonable that the functions should be reduced to a more sensible number,” the guide says.