EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 419, 30 January 1909, Page 11

EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

K THE SCHOLARSHIP QUESTION. ,-. -A LAJDY PRINCIPAL'S OPINIONS. ■'-.;..■'.:•.(BY TELEaBAPH— rnESS ASSOCIATION.) : '.- ■ -' r CrirlstcHurcri,'January 29. Miss-M.•• V: .Gibson, .M.A., lady principal of 'the Girls' Hjgh ; . School,- was interviewed by a. representative'of the "Press", regarding the. discussion at'the'University Senate on Wednesday. on ,: , the - proposal to ,provide scholarships for : girls iu order to lessen the strain oh secondary-schools. •: ■ - i ,Miss Gibson was of opinion that: to give separate-, scholarships for ' girls : would not really.prevent'the strain at all, as'if the present standard of ■ work were maintained there.wduld.be just as .injurious competition among the girls themselves. A girl did hot :exert herself to beat tho boys,- But to gain a scholarships._' On'the-other hand, if 1 the standard 'of girls' work were lowered, the strain , of the ■ university colleges would be disastrous for the girls, because they would go' there ./less well prepared than the boys; against ■■ ■whom they, would have; to compete. She thought that the work required for the junior university.'-scholarship 'examination should' be reduced for , boys and girls' alike on .some : lines such .as those suggested, by the Secondary.Schools'Conference as recommended to ■■.'the ■ Senate in May of 'last , year.' She;,thought that'.;the.strain-when.it;..was' present :in .girls'- secondary schools'was almost entirely due to weakness in the ing ;staff. '' The- choice.of 'suitable'teachers for' girls':, schools -in • the; subjects for the junior-,..university'.;• scholarship - examination was still'extremely-small'.- "What would bo better, "tlian'.giving : ' scholarships .for igirls would"be for the Education Department and the.; Senat- to try and make the teaching staffs of the secondary schools more thoroughly efficient.by paying salaries that would induce really' clever-and well-qualified women te. teach; in such', schools:by giving them facilities for' pofct-graduate work* and free attendance; at courses of ; college lectures.. Girls' secondary' schools should" also' have sufficient endowments to .keep a targe enough; staff- to' permit of, , proper ,- specialisation. There.'should:also'be smaller- classes which, would allow-; more/ time, for'- preparation of the work' on the,p'art-of , the teacher.:, • .'•■ _ ■ 'i .'Miss: Gib&n : wa's>a'lso'.:bf' opinion;that '-it ..would be ■an , advantage if ! a: thoroughlyqualified ■ 'medical visitor:' were v appointed who would -hold' a' parade of' 'the-_ girls once;, or twice'.-'a- term;\.'.' '~: '-, ■'-.■", . ; ■;•; ; '-.--' : • ' \"■ !:",:•'"■ Dealing>itn the'subjects that should be taught at-girls' 'secondary sfchqdlß, Miss. Gibson did; not think •that all-girls' should- be ; compelled''to take' domestic 5 ■ "science vas one of-their though'shV'would have' ■those 'wlh> wished .te j'so encouraged- .byits -inclusion ,;in 'the-curriculum." • ■'": .';'•■ •:' ; 'A well-tapwn'medical man; who , was also' 'interviewed', da-the' Bubject pointed out-that; the; trouble' 1 was .that; the. ; pressure , 'on/ \ a' ■girl-s 1 mfentar-andrnervbus' , . system': occurred at-f.the-' •time, her development tl yas;at tne poirit 'tif-'greatest charigo' ■ A' certain ; pro-' 'portion''of 'girls V-studying:,,' for , • university, sc^^rsMips , :'arid.degrees 'broke' down', be-; 'c^tise , '' they ! ;'did' not-' possess'.the * necessa'ry ; •stiimma.";He -that ',tlve--proposed-; institutiotf 'Of. ,: Ech6larships for girls;._was"- a : -goo'd -ide'aVif : - -were' -examined "in their own depar.tm<-ftis, long>s'girls 'Sere'"c6mpetirig-.with" wys.it was only fair, from the. .'boys' , ; .p6irit; of. "yiow-that;' they /should have' : to bear , the.'same'test..-'■'.•; ' .;,