Years At School

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

Years At School

Wei I ing ton II ead in is I ress Says Tliev Should Nel Be Curtailed

in Hie annual report of the Wellington Girls’ College which I he principal, Miss E. M. North, presented on Thursday, a reference is made to the short-, sighted economy of taking girls too early from school.

“During lhe year 38 pupils who were in the first or second year left the school.” says Miss North in the. report. "I am unable to understand this continuing tendency on the part of parents to allow their (laughters to leave school before tliey ate qualified. It can no longer be explained by the need for children to earn, during depression years, or by the need for them to help financially-■ duriifg.--.unemploy-ment of their parents. These two crises have passed. ’lt seems to-be an aftermath of harder times, .a. sort of feverish anxiety to get girls'placed in positions. Over and over again 1 notice Hint there is no financial difficulty in the family circumstances. Parents can be reassured. There is no shortage of positions for girls, or any sign of such shortage. What a pity it is. then, to take immature girls of fourteen and fifteen years and put them into positions which cannot lead to seniority or promotion! Another year or two at school would give them that education aud exiVCrienee aiKt poise-winch- would qualify them for senior posts aud promise of advajidTieuL”