“KNOCK-KNEED & BANDY”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10950, 12 July 1921, Page 2

“KNOCK-KNEED & BANDY”

SCHOOL CHILDREN AND DESKS. SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENT. “Are the desks at which our children sit suitable and adequate fpr growing children F” was the question asked by a member of the School Committees’ Association at its meeting last night, following a remit from Hie Newtown committee. The motion was aa follows:—“That the Newtown school committee desirea to bring under the notice of your association the inadequacy and unsuitability of the desks used for the upper classes, particularly standard VI., girls and hoys. Many of these growing children .are uncomfortably cramped, to the detriment of their health, and .lesions. The present desks have been in use a good many years, and even from age need replacing, apart from being too small.” The mover said he felt that it was a pretty general complaint voiced by most schools. It was a most disagreeable thing to have young childen trying to apply themselves to their studies whilst crammed into small seats. Mr J. O. Shorland held that the money .expended in training children and developing them physically would be wasted entirely if they were to be “stuffed into seats” with their legs jammed against the desks. This practice only tended to make the children grow ‘‘knock-kneed and bandy.” G. Forsyth, of the Education Board, speaking as a committee man, said he believed that a certain kind of new school furniture (which woifld cover the general oomlaint) was shortly to be installed, but it had been found that the time was hot yet opportune. The matte, was to be gone into thoroughly. _ The headmasters were to confer, and, in addition, it was desirable to have medical opinion on the subject before proceeding. However, they were not far distant now. Mr Jorgensen considered that the desks at present in. use would hardly tend to make the children “knockkneed and bandy,.” The speaker had—and no doubt most of the gentlemen present had —sat in those identical desks, and they had not become bandy, nor even “knock-kneed.” (Laughter.) Oh a vote, the motion was carried.