DUCKING AND RAGGING

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10921, 23 August 1928, Page 7

DUCKING AND RAGGING

(News.) The ceremony or initiation into' school life, t-y w hich new pupils" are subjected- at boarding schools.- was brought before the Dannevirke High School Board cf Governors at a meeting by a letter from the Education Department, who wrote regarding a case recently brought- under the notice of the Minister of Education, where it was alleged that a boy, during the course of bis initiation at the hands of his fellow-boarders, was so seriously injured that he wa.s lying dangerously ill in hospital and would be- maimed for life. The letter stated that departmental officers had on many occasions received complaints 'of the rough handling of new boys at these socalled initiation ceremonies, whore occasionally disgusting practices were carried on and small boys underwent ill-treatment that should not ibe permitted. The department was of opinion that “ragging” ought to, he put down with a firm hand, .so as to avoid recurrence of cases such as those brought under notice and it trusted that boards would take action accordingly. The principal (Mr A. G. Tait). on being referred to. stated that there wa-s an initiation ceremony at the school which had been in vogue since the school was started. It wa.s carried out under the supervision of the prefects and was hnyml-ciss. The. Rev. G. B. Stephenson pointed out that evidently there were cases where the practice was not liarmle.ss. but he thought it might be made compulsory that such ceremonies should be under proper .supervis i Oil . The chairman (Mr T. H. G. Lloyd) remarked that now Mr T;it’s attention had beep drawn to. the matter he thought that was nil that would he necessary and the discussion dropped.