GAMES FOR GIRLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10962, 26 July 1921, Page 8

GAMES FOR GIRLS

IS RUGBY TOO ROUGH? OPINIONS AT TECHNICAL BOARD. Games for girls is a rather live topio just now, and it crept into the (proceedings of the Technical Education Board last night. A clause in the report of the director (Mr J. H. Howell) read as follows:—"A good deal of prominence has been given to a statement made by the headmistress of Crouch End High School, London, deprecating; games for girls a» likely to produce effects that would prove serious -in after life. It is unfortunate that equal /prominence has not been given to the fact that in the next number of the 'Times Educational Supplement’ there was a letter from a lady doctor attached to one of the large English girls’ schools, in entire disagreement with these views, while in a etui later issue the headmistress of St. Paul’s Girls’ School, one of the largest and best-known of London schools, said: 'All this was said twenty or thirty years ago, but it was soon shown there ..was nothing in it. One or two eases of girls’ physical disabilities are brought up again and again, but no real proof was offered that these were the result of games or drill. lam ceitain that games are not overdone in properly conducted schools. All trained gymnastic mistresses axe constantly on the alert to see that no girls ehall overdo games or exercises. As .to the effect of the race, I have seen nothing but good come of proper physical training.’^* Mr Forsyth said he thought the board ought to express an opinion in the mattor. There was a very fine game—basket bad!—which filled the bill as an exercise, and was not so dangerous or strenuous for gilds as Rugby and soccer were.. The board ought to" express an opinion against girls playing Rugby and soccer, which were not fit for girls. The chairman (Mr W. H. Bennett) thought the director was fully alive to the position, and would be sure to keep the programme of games on suitable lines.

The director said he was entirely tn agreement with Mr Forsyth. He added that basket ball was suitable in Wellington, where grounds were scarce. Mr W. Pascoe thought Rugby for .girls would not he in the interests of the race. PHYSICAL INSTRUCTOR’S OPINION. FOOTBALL BAD FOR THEM. Interesting remarks on games for girls were made by Mr H. Lougworth. chief physical instructor for the .New Zealand Education Department, when addressing a'meeting of Palmerston North teachers. Mir Longworth emphasised the great value of physical training in the making of a sturdy nation. There were nnfOTtunately few people who realised the inestimable benefits to the growing child obtained by properly regulated, scientific exercises (says the "Mamiratu; Standard"). Games, especially, were a great aid to the proper culture of the body. Speaking of games, he said that football was bad for girls. It was not a girls’ game, as it was too rough, and the element of risk in straining the body internally was always present. Girls who did not play football would, when the time came, make better mothers to healthier children than would be born of more athletic mothers. Hockey was detrimental to the health of most girls, though some were hardy enough to offset ally ill-effects. The ideal game for girls was basket-ball, since it exercised the majority of musoles, and the risk of strain inwardly was not great.