EDUCATION OF GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2909, 23 October 1916, Page 3

EDUCATION OF GIRLS

SOME SUGGESTIONS DISCUSSED

MAKING EFFICIENT WOMEN

The suggestion endorsed by tho iCoimoil of Education that "tho time \ has come when more differentiation in the education of boys and girls is advisable'touches ground that has been discussed 'frequently in educational circles during recent years. Tho primary system has recognised a need for differentiation to some extent, but educational" authorities have been handicapped in this respect by tho necessity for arranging a syllabus, that can . be worked in the small schools. " Further, there have been differences of opinion as to the advisability of separating the boys and girls in the primary stages of education, when the purpose of instruction is to secure development rather than to fit pupils for v vocations. But the whole subject is full ol interest from tho point of view or educationalists, and its great importance is generally recognised. A Dominion reporter who mentioned this, matter to some Wellington teachers had his attention drawn to a report recently published by Mr. Donald Clark, Chief Inspector of the Technical Schools _of Victoria; and a recognised authority on' ! educational matters. "Unfortunately, girls were educated in the past as if they were inun," said Mr. Clark, "and even now b large part of the education and training given to girls and young women is stupidly conservative and academic. It is not directed towards the future occupation, nor is it directed towards the future life of tho woman. How many instances have we all witnessed of girls who received a colles* education, and. who did well at the school becoming almost stranded because they were never trained to do anything which would help thorn to earn iheir own bread?" Mr. Clark's idea is that there should 'be junior technical schools for girls, who would be given training of a vocational character after they had received the groundwork of their education in the primary schools. But he emphasises that the time and effort spent upon education of a specialised character are apt to be wasted unless the girls' have previously reached a satisfactory educational . standard in the primary schools, where the need for dinerent'iati6n between the sexes is not marked.

What Is the Funotlon of tho Softool? Teachers are not agreed as to the desirability of giving a vocational turn to the instruction in the primary or oven the secondary tchools." "It is Sot the purpose of tho national-educa-tion-system to provide partially-trained industrial works/.' said one teacher yesterday. "Education is something more &an mere instruotion, and ive have to be on guard against the tendency to regard elementary training in handicraft or commercial subjects as a proper substitute-for the'normal subjects of education. I don't think that it should bo the aim of the education system, in dealing with girls, to produce efficient typists or milliners, or even housewives, though a firm basis for efficiency in those directions; will be provided if we do our work well in the primary and. secondary schools. Our task is to-develop mind) and character, and I think that to a large extent the same exercises are applicable to both sexes.' The results, or course, will be different because the mind of a girl is a different thing from tho mind of a w." ..■■•■.■-■■.■■' I

Mr. Donald Clark's suggestion was

that ilie curriculum of junior technical schools for girls should includo English and civics, mathematics and household subjects, with certain art studies. The household subjects wero to include cooking, laundry, housewifery, hygiene, needlework ,and dressmaking, and wore to bo taken by all students during the first year. Girls during the second year, ho added, should'take .up courses of work designed to train them as housekeepers, institutional managers, matrons, cooks, laundresses, or domestic workors, or as needle-workers, milliners and dressmakers, or art and craft workers, etc. "There is going to bo plenty of scope for,tho trained woman," was the comment of a Wellington gentleman who has interested himself in technical education. ''The employment of women is bound' to be extended after the war, owing to tho loss of a. certain, proportion of the men and the withdrawal of other men from indbor occupations. It is obvious, too, that an increased number of women will have to become selfsupporting. The more fully we can equip our girls for the tasks of life the better it will be for them and for the nation. I certainly think that we can help the girls by giving them education of a more specialised kind than is srovided to-day."

The Hawko's Bay Returned Soldiers' Association will hold a ball at Napier this week.

Tho new Napier Soldiers' Club will probably be opened in about a fortnight.

News has been/received by Mrs. J. C. Wilson (nee Miss Julia Brough), of Foatherston, that her husband, Lieut. Wilson, of the Imperial Forces, was killed in action in France on September 15. " ,