THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2919, 3 November 1916, Page 5

THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS

Sir,—l wish through tho columns of' your paper to draw the attention of parents to tho eugesfcions—re the education of girls—made by the Council of ISducation. The report advises that training in the domestic arts should be made compulsory in all the stages of a girl's school career. From the age of ten years, in Standard 3, right up to the university, something in the shape of domestic science appears to occupy the most prominent place m the currioulum. Moreover, tho girl shall be allowed to make an intensive study of only two subjects in preparation for a university course. Girls must be kept apart from boys, and must bo taught almost exclusively by women teachers. One hardly dares to question tho findings of such an important authority as the Education Council, but parents will jieed to consider whether the proposed course is in tho best interests of their girls. Is such a long training in tlie domestic arts necessary, in schools ? Then, too, tho following considerations need to be taken into account:— (1) How far, in the case of girls, should special aptitudes and abilities determine the clioico of studies? Should girls have the samo freedom of choice tis boys? . ; (2) To what extent is it necessary to

equip girls to cam their own living in some work outside the homo? Einally, one must ask, lias the council weighed all the factors that enter into this difficult problem?—l am, cic., INTERESTED.