Overwork in Schools.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4676, 21 June 1893, Page 2

Overwork in Schools.

It ia Bati*f actory to note that the ladieß J who hold the important positions of head- { mistresses of the principal primary schools J in the Christchurch district, have taken 1 united action in order to leßsen the strain < which is placed upon the girls under their J care. These girls have to learn all that 1 the boya learn, and to do needlework in ] addition; and they find the work too < much for their powers. It is also i satisfactory to see that the Board < of Education is disposed to look with favour on tho head mistresses' recommendation, which was that geometrical and model drawing should no longer be taught to girle, as being of much less importance to them than 'needlework. The allowance of ten per cent of marks, made to the girls, is not, it appears from the {statements of the ladies when they interviewed the Minister for Education on the subject, sufficient to obviate the evil complained of. It seems to be high time that something waa done to lessen the pressure which, it is said, ia, in some schools, at all events, put upon the girls. It has been stated that the recent death of a girl attending one of our large public schools was accelerated, if not caused, by overstudy, and that cases of illness have occurred from the same cauoe. If there be the least modicum of truth in such reports, the work of the children should certainly be lessened. It may be remarked i that in schools where girls are overworked, | boye, also, are> probably subject to the same evil. The matter calls for careful investigation.