CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3292, 3 December 1892, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

'^EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL.

To the Editor of the Star. Sib,— Being a constant reader of the Star I think it my duty as a parent to rapport the contention of your travelling correspondent from Manaia on the 24tb re "bodily training in school life." and of Mr. Mooro Hunter in your issue of the 28th November, "Social troubles." I have always contended that girls (as well as boys) should be taught the manual exercise at school ; adjoining my native village in Eogland was established a college for the daughters of officers killed in the Crimean war, 1854-5, and any castul observer would notice the difference of those so trained when walking through the streets of the neighboring towns. Night lessons, again, are a fruitful Bouroe of enrvatare of the spine, the growing children doing about five hours of desk work per day and then add abont two hours more a night in addition to any domestio duties, and the question is quite clear, what else can yon expect ? As your correspondent nghtly says " not one id[so has a good figure and not one m a hundred can walk gracefully." Now, as to "social troubles," once When in Lon3on, over thirty yearß since, I saw a proceeßion (through the Marble Arch into Hyde Park) of what was then termed the "Nine hours movement. The question that presented itself was, •• Those men, if they choße, could take poßsefleion of London." The next, »Ah I she police and Boldiers would be, called out to suppress Buch a movement.' The next instant it flashed through my mind, "Are not the soldiers and policemen brothers and cousins of these same men who are trying peacelnDy to emerge from a life 0! oonßtant toi\ in thaw vaotVd ol bricks and mortar ?" It has been evident to thinking women and men for years past that there mu6t be a revolution of either the sword or the pen. I say it is a ■tending monument to the •' brainpower of the bulk of the toilers that they have earnestly tried the power of the pen instead of the sword and dynamite. Now, Mr. Editor, thanking you in advance for inserting this, I will, with yoar permistion, in a future issue give one of the remedies for onr present social troubles.— I am, SCO.* _ '• f: Am Observer op the Times. Normanby, lat December.