MENTAL STRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21829, 16 December 1932, Page 9

MENTAL STRESS

THE ECONOMIC SITUATION REACTION OF ADOLESCENTS. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 15. The statement that growing numbers of boys have their mental energy impaired by physical unfitness was made by the principal of the Mount Albert Grammar School, one of the largest secondary schools in the city, at the prize giving last evening. “ Examples of intellectual progress being retarded by sheer bodily disability have so multiplied,” he said, “ that very fine discrimination has to be used by masters as to how far boys may be driven. To be sure just where mental distress is beginning, and to diagnose the cause of it, are matters always of prime importance in dealing with boys of secondary school age, but the curtailment of the accustomed (even the necessary) comforts in the homes of many boys to-day has seriously aggravated the dangers of submitting boys to a mental strain they cannot safely bear.” A second difficulty was introduced by the violent disturbance of boys’ minds arid thoughts, brought about by the prevalent discontent and restlessness, and by the presence around them of so many examples of unwanted training and skill. So far the boys had shown stout resistance to their troubles.