WHAT MRS GRUNDY SHOULD DO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 32

WHAT MRS GRUNDY SHOULD DO.

■ » ■ By 0. M. Oeaee to exist 1 Certainly cot ; it will be a sad day for the world when this wellmeaning old lady is no more. All she needs to do is to rejuvenate. There is a story told of a wonderfal old man who was apparently dyirg, when Natnrs suddenly presetted him with a new set of teeth and a fresh crcp of bair — in fact, made a new man of him altogether. Such a transformation is what Mrs Grnndy requires ; Bne must become a i New Woman. It is not generally kocwa that Mrh Gundy follows the useful occupation of a teacher ; pupils of hera who have successfully passed her examinations may be seen at the grand stand or in the local ballrooms, as well as in peaceful cot to cay stagnant horaeß where such amusements are held in abhorrence, for it is characteristic of the old lady in her role of teacher to change every decade her answers to the problems sbe gets her pupil?, so that latter-day scholars affirming to their elders that "Mrs Grundy said so-and-so," will leirn with surprise that Mrs Gruody said quite the opposite in other days. As, for instance, to her well-known problem, "Put; higher education to woman— what result 1 " sbe used to give as answer ; " Woman and education cancel each other, rf suit, nil.'' But nowadays it is only when the higher education i 3 specified as M.D. or sometbieg similar that this answer is given ; for a B A. or au M A. she now proves that the woman element is not eliminated, but remains unaffected. Something of a similar nature will probably be done with the *' Problem Novel" which Mrs G is working out ju3t now. The inspector of this school, which is attended largely by mothers and daughters, is known as the eligible young man. The pnp'ls, as is natural in such cases, stand rattier in awe of him, as he keeps both them and their teacher up to the mark. Besides examining the cla«sts and giving the prizes, which generally take the form of wedding rings, he arranges what text books ara to be used for the following year. Much anxiety is evinced as to his decision on such matters as (1) Are politics permissible ? Is the reformed dress to be hooted at ? And great is the delight of the little folks when some favourite anbjeot is allowed them. For myself, I have always considered that the inspector is too young for tho position, and unfortunately it is the rale that whenever he

grows old or marries he must lose bis situation. As, however, there ia no changing this regulation in a day, I should like to suggest a new subject which might b8 addod to the curriculum of 1896 when intending pupil* enrol themselves for another year's work. This is, ""I* it necessary that one or two stalwart young ladisa should be piloted home through perfectly safe streets by a lad weary perhaps from a hard clay's work simply because it happens to be dark ? " As regards this problem, however, it is only fair to mention that the inspector has been taking it up himself, and has worked it out to the answer No. It is therefore probable that this problem along with tbe series of interesting calculations by which it is obtained will be laid before the pupils when Echool reop9ns. If Mrs Grundy would consent to thip, also to tbe dismissal of the inspector, who, in spite of the above evidence of goo A sense, is nevertheless generally deemed too young for so onerous a position, I have not the slightest doubt that her benches would be crowded by tbe number of New Women anxious for a year or two's good schooling at such a respectable academy.