“SCHOOL JOURNAL” IS ATTACKED FOR SLANG AND CRUDE ENGLISH

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1949, Page 5

“SCHOOL JOURNAL” IS ATTACKED FOR SLANG AND CRUDE ENGLISH

NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 17. Caustic criticism of English used in the School Journal was voiced at the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board at New Plymouth today, when it was decided to lodge a strong protest with the Education Department at what was termed the “low standard of the literature” employed. Slang and poor grammatica construction were condemned in terms that included a description “sordid”.

Loose English, and “ordinary common slang” were not the type of reading to be placed before children, said Miss Vera Curtis, a former, headmistress, who introduced the subject. What, she asked, would the Board members say if, as parents, they found their children employing such language at home ? The chi - dren would reply: “But we read it in the School Journal”. To support her view, Miss Curtis quoted at random from an article entitled “Ou Street” in the “Journal” issued bv the Department for July. After criticising the type of language used, and drawings that were associated with it, Miss Curtis said that, in tpn cb--cumstances, it must be very difficult, indeed, for teachers who wei'? trying to raise the standard of culture mim their pupils.