“RAGGING” THE NEW BOY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 205, 28 July 1928, Page 10

“RAGGING” THE NEW BOY.

PRACTICE AT SCHOOLS. In some of the schools and colleges of Auckland tlie ceremony of “ragging” still has its place (says the Star). New boys or freshmen are initiated into college life by various methods, which sometimes mildly resemble the celebrations of Neptune on crossing the Lino. At tho Auckland Grammar School tho old-time custom of ducking a iew hundred heads under the tap still survives, and the event, in anticipation, has terrors for youths to whom tho life of a big school is regarded with awo and wonder. Professor A. P. \\ • Thomas, chairman of the Grammar Schools Board, said at a meeting cf the board this week, that he was aware tho custom of “ragging” still existed to some extent, but ho did not consider that action should be taken to suppress it, as there was never a suggestion of violence. , Enquiry this morning showed thcit, so far as tho Palmerston North Boys High School is concerned, there is no “initiation” ceremony carried put. Some years ago there was a “ducking ceremony of a mild nature, but even that is no longer in vogue. On the subject of “ragging of new pupils at boarding schools, Mr 1. Strong, Director of Education, recently addressed a letter to the various school controlling authorities. He said a case had recently been brought under tho notice of the Minister of Education, alleging that “a boy, during the course of liis initiation at tho hands ct his fellow-boarders, was so seriously injured that lie was now lying dangerously ill in a hospital and would be maimed for life. “The departments officers,” continued tlie letter, have on many occasion received complaints of the rough handling of new boys and of these so-called ‘initiation ceremonies,’ where occasionally disgusting practices are carried on, and small boys undergo ill-treatment, which should not be permitted. The department is of opinion that ‘ragging outfit to bo put down with a firm hand, so as to avoid the recurrence of casosv sucli as those brought under its notice, and it trusts that tlie board will take action accordingly.”