Investigation Into Shirts Directed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31649, 8 April 1968, Page 9

Investigation Into Shirts Directed

The Hagley High School headmaster (Mr T. R. Richards) reported with some pride that the school was one of the few with a summer shirt for boys, but the board of governors directed him to investigate something better.

Mr Richards said he had read a lot of newspaper reports and letters complaining that schools still insisted on flannel shirts the year round. Hagley had a summer poplin shirt in 1961 when he took over.

Property washed, pressed and cared for. It looked and served well, but otherwise it could get “scruffy.” The P.T.A. had suggested something cooler than worsted shorts and woollen stockings but he saw little merit in this Change. Mrs P. L. Campbell said the summer shirt was her greatest source of annoyance. It needed a lot of care, became scruffy, and was inferior to a plain drill shirt. “Shirts have the greatest scope for improvement in this school,” said Mrs Campbell. She suggested further inquiry. Mr Richards said that six months ago a firm gave nylon shirts to six boys on the condition that their parents made weekly reports on

laundering and serviceability and handed them in for inspection. Nothing more had been heard from the firm and the boys had not got their shirts back as promised.

“We would like to hear from them. They were good shirts and the boys and parents liked them,” said Mr Richards.

, In defence of the present summer shirt, Mr W- W. Brough said he employed a pupil part-titne and his appearance was a credit to him and to the uniform.