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"The gang of boys would do naughty things like sneak into a movie without paying and people were worried that if children read this then all of them would try to do the same thing," exhibition curator Gregory O'Brien says.
"The School Journal has survived for so long because it has changed with history," Mr O'Brien said.
Gregory O'Brien is curator of A Nest of Singing Birds _ 100 years of the New Zealand School Journal. The exhibition has arrived at Puke Ariki from Wellington. Picture: TREVOR READ
NEW Zealand's School Journal has done a lot of social trailblazing in its 100-year history and is the focus of an exhibition that opened at Puke Ariki on Saturday.
When Brian Sutton-Smith's Our Street first appeared in the School Journal in 1949, the activities of the gang of boys sparked protest throughout the country.
"The gang of boys would do naughty things like sneak into a movie without paying and people were worried that if children read this then all of them would try to do the same thing," exhibition curator Gregory O'Brien says.
In its first issue, in 1907, the journal was very English, with mostly imported stories. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the journal contained lyrics to God Save The King and stories about French children brewing coffee for frontline soldiers.
From the 1950s, the journal used more work from New Zealand artists such as Rita Angus and writers such as James K. Baxter, Helen Shaw and Janet Frame.
"The School Journal has survived for so long because it has changed with history," Mr O'Brien said.
"Even in terms of its production, the cover art began as two colours, and then moved to three and then full colour."
At almost every stage, there were naysayers who fought against these changes.
Initially, the journal was delivered to every child and Mr O'Brien says this was sometimes the only opportunity rural children had to read. Later, delivery was limited to schools.
Mr O'Brien says the next hundred years look positive for the journal, which is exploring CD-rom and e-book technology.
"It continues to move with history and remains a showcase of New Zealand art, literature and way of life," he says.
A Nest of Singing Birds -- 100 years of the New Zealand School Journal is on display at Puke Ariki until October 21.
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Caption: Gregory O'Brien is curator of A Nest of Singing Birds _ 100 years of the New Zealand School Journal. The exhibition has arrived at Puke Ariki from Wellington. Picture: TREVOR READ
Copyright Independent Newspapers, Ltd. Sep 24, 2007