AGE OF MISBEHAVIOUR?

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 23

AGE OF MISBEHAVIOUR?

WHEN DOES IT END? A tall order was placed before the Education Board last week, when a letter was read from the Education Department, _ complaining of the conduct of school children when travelling on the trains. The letter stated that instances had occurred of inconvenience and marked annoyance to the travelling public and railway _ officials through the behaviour of school children on trainsj and it asked the board to make provision for the proper supervision of all travelling pupils ! The request contained in the letter left the members o-f the board speechless for the moment. “It’s impossible,” then came a chorus of voices. The secretary said that the General Manager of Railways had written to the Education Department and made a complaint. The boards were asked to issue instructions to all teachers to make arrangements to supervise the conduct of the children when travelling on the trains. ITe_ pointed out that this was done under certain conditions. Mr J. H. Wilkinson said that he had heard complaints about the children travelling in the Oamaru d’-tricts to attend the technical classes. Mr G. Livingstone loyally replied that he had never heard any such _ complaints in his part of the Oamaru district. The secretary said that if anyone would bring a definite complaint they would know where they were. The _ letter had not even stated if the Otago district was implicated in any way Mr D. Borrie backed up Mr Livingstone. No complaints had reached his ears. Ho had, however, heard of children going from Kurow to attend tho Waitaki Boys’ High gchool.

Mr Borrio then made a remark which somewhat startled the board members. He said that these children were “beyond the age of misbehaviour.” Mr Wallace (chairman) in surprise: Eh! What age is that?—(Laughter.) Mr Borrie went on to say that the matter rested a great deal with the guard. A member said that the Railway Department evidently desired to shunt its responsibilities on to the Education Boards. The Chairman said that if anyone would bring a complaint, the board would be perpared to look into it. Air J. Horn said that he travelled a good deal on the railways. He had always found tho children very good. Who signs the letter? asked a member. The Chairman: J. A. Valentine. The letter went the way of most things desired to be forgotten by public bodies. It was “received.”