“RAGGING”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 February 1935, Page 3

“RAGGING”

(To the Editor) Sir, —The practice of what is known fas “ragging” is, I believe, quite old and perhaps, within certain limits, comparatively harmless. Carried to excess it becomes bullying and hurtful persecution. One does not mind a little horseplay between equals in size and age but when young and highly-strung children are tormented by others much older and stronger it becomes persecution. Such children are sometimes made temporarily ill and always very unhappy by the treatment meted out to them, simply because they are young and unable to forcibly defend themselves. Such objectionable conduct, I am told, is all too common to-day on the trains taking pupils to and from the Nelson Colleges. I do not think the children complain of this but the effects are all too-easily noticable by parents and others. The practice is probably due to thoughtlessness and the lack of kindly feeling. If this should catch the eye of the seniors perhaps they will view the luatter from another angle. It is really handful to’ the sensitive child. Do they wish to harm, or make miserable the younger children ? Is it not more noble to protect and help them? And again, is it not a- spirit of which they themselves should be ashamed? To persecute the helpless is a cowardly thing and an exhibition of the contemptible spirit of_tlie bully. If this appeal fails caTmot the guard and tlie prefects on the train and even the College authorities deal with it? There are many who think it should ■cease; but “a word to the wise is sufficient.” —I am, etc., FAIR PLAY. 20th February.