GUIDING IN SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 15

GUIDING IN SCHOOLS

One often hears it said that Guiding in schools takes up too much time, so it was interesting to hear the views of a prominent headmistress on the subject (states an English paper). "Generally speaking," she said, "unless the school Guide Company acts as a real training-ground for leadership ia the movement, I think the amount of time it takes up is too much—that is, in a day school. A boarding school is another matter. ' Further, unless the various guide activities are closely linked up with the ideal of social service. the movement loses what should be its primary function—the training in public spirit, bearing fruit in after life in work for the communty."

The speaker has been a keen worker in the movement since her college days, is a district commissioner, and a member of a headquarters committee. She raised another interesting point. From the school's standpoint, there is most time available for guiding during the winter terms, but this is a time of year when climatic conditions make cne very important part of Guide work, namely Nature-study and other outdoor activities, impracticable. Nature-study learnt from books and museums on winter afternoons is a poor substitute.