HOCKEY FOR GIRLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20619, 18 July 1930, Page 15

HOCKEY FOR GIRLS.

PROHIBITION AT A SCHOOL. OPINION MUCH DIVIDED. [BY TKLEGIIAriI. —OWN CORRESL'ONDENT.] NGATEA. Thursday. A lively discussion followed a protest bv Mrs. J. McKerchar, on behalf of district residents, to this week's meeting of the Ngat.ea District High School committee against the action of tho headmaster of the school, Mr. W. Chappell, in prohibiting the playing of hockey by girls. The speaker rend the names of seven parents who desired their daughtcis to play hockey, and stated that many others objected' 'to basket ha 11. on the ground that k was not as suitable a game for girls. Discussing the protest later, the chairman, Mr. W. Me Duff, said personally he favoured hockey for girls, and could not understand why it had been prohibited. He had been approached by several parents who resented the decision and by others who had very strong objections to basketball as a game for girls. Mr. Chaopell stated that as headmaster he had full control of the school playing areas. In prohibiting hockey he bid merely followed the example of the Hamilton High School, and many other New Zealand schools. On tho other hand, basketball was favoured by teachers as highly suitable for improving the physique ol girls. Every winter pupils sustained injuries as a result of blows from hockey balls. Another objection was that pupils had joined a local hockey club, which tended to break down the ' school spirit and made them less amenable to discipline. I he hockey girls were now playing basketball with enthusiasm. Tho chairman challenged the headmaster's statement that the school spirit had improved since hockey had been piohibited. The fact was that parents were up in arms at such a decision. Mr. Chappell said a handful of girls wcro putting hockey before their schooling, and four pupils were this week playing man Auckland competition. The lost tuition could not, now be very well made up, and I lie four players would probably fail to qualify for an important examinat ion. After Messrs. Foster and Lancli had endorsed tho headmaster's decision, it was tacitly agreed that, although opinion was sharply divided, it was not a matter in which the committee could interfere with tho headmaster's control of tho playground.