[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I should like to
add my support to the plea that more agents and instruments should be provided for the broadening of life of those women who have to live in suburbs.
That the B.B.C. misses a great opportunity one glance at any " day's " programme will clearly show ; for, apart from Mr. John Hilton's enlivening talk to men of leisure, and the lessons in school term, the greater part of the day programme is taken up with a depressing spate of light music, depressing as only running water can be, when it continues to stream day after day where, otherwise, seeds of interest might be sown and fertilised.
The day of the suburban wife is long, and often lonely and silent. She prefers to get her work done in the morning, and by the evening, when her husband returns, she is more willing to talk than to listen to all the plays and talks in which she would have delighted during the long afternoons. Possibly the inclusion of more women of imagination and resource on the committees which fashion' the programmes would be the means of introducing a larger field of interests and ideas to women in their leisure hours. Further, sonic such body as the National Society for Women's Service, who do much to foster companionship and to spread community of interest among young professional women, might well devote their attention to this problem of developing a sense of good citizenship, and infusing a desire for culture among the masses of young single or married dwellers of suburbs. As to the cause of this lack of desire for knowledge, there are many contributing factors, among them the examination system in schools, the small attention paid to good reading at home,. the cloying and stultifying effect of most films, the scarcity of good lectures that would interest young people.
Our greatest help in the solution of this problem lies with the Education Authorities. At a time when the treasures of the mind are so hard to conic by in suburban areas it is to the schools that we look, hoping that it will be borne in upon school authorities how great is their opportunity, and how vital their responsibility in stimulating the desire for self- development after schooldays arc over.—Yours faithfully, 6 Woodside Close, Amershanz, Bucks. YSEULT EDWARDS.
Previous page
