EDUCATING GIRLS'

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 5

EDUCATING GIRLS'

CHANGES SOUGHT VIEWS .OF WOMEN TEACHERS ■ ..An important subject- recently considered by the Council of JCducntion was that of the education of girls. Tho council ndoptcd a policy which has been briefly outlined thus: — . (a) That, recognising t-lio value in tiio education of girls of those subjects that specially pertain to women's lifework, this committee aflirin in general the policy that the time has come when more differentiation in the education of boys and twirls is advisable. (b) That, with a view to more definite work in character-formation, some change should be made to allow women teachers inore opportunity for the personal guidance of girls. _ (c) While drawing attention to the need for that kind of education which fully recognises the development of womanly qualities, this committee wishes to ensure, for girls opportunities lor even fuller development of their illdividual mental lwwers, and the recognition of the importance of their humanity. . . This report was considorcd by the Women Teachers' Association yesterday- . TJ» report aimed at modifying awl improving the present system of-edu-cation rather than at suggesting any revolutionary change. The roasons for desiring a differentiation in the education of the boy and. girl were: —(a) Their work in life is different, and the knowledge and training that each will require .in preparation for that work will therefore be different; and while both may bo taught together up to a certain stage, it is felt that differentiation should begin sooner and bo more marked thaii at present, (b) Their mental capacity and physical strength are unlike; the boy is more original, the girl more imitative, and .there is more dangor of the girl suffering from overwork, (c) There are many subjects essential in the education of both —their duties in life, their knowledge of life—which must be cxplainotl gradually and wisely to both; which cannot be treated if' tho two are taught together, and which - must be given to the girl, by a woman, (d) The lipper girls of the primary school require a training in womanly qualities, and should, therefore bo under tTio influence and training of women, (e) Tho qual- ! ity of adaptiveness is far moro necesI sary in the girl than in tho boy. Tho | latter may bo trained from tho beginning with some definite end in view; but a girl never knows what life may ! have in store for her.

.Miss Chaplin (North Canterbury) opened .the discussion. She said that tho education of the girls was important to the nation because they bocame the mothers. The question was: Could the present system of educating girls be improved? Yes; it was not perfect. Certainly, of late thoro had been an' improvement in the way ,of teaching girls the domestic sciences, but until lately the education of boys had been regarded as the- predominant thing. Generally, she approved the report of the Council of Education. • Miss N. E.'.Goad. {Wellington) criticised the report, which she said was very indefinite in places. Sho thought the differentiation too drastic; the domestic sciences could wait, until i the girls : reached the continuation classes. She moved: "That the New Zealand Women Teachers' Association considers that the report of the Council of Education.-on the education of-girls is based on unsound principles in'resard to (1) early differentiation in.ro.sard to the educaFion of girls; (2) almost complete segregation of boys and girls right through their school course." The motion was not seconded. Miss Birss (Southland) moved that the conference-should approve the proposals embodied in the report, and express a. hope that tho Minister will put them into operation as soon as possible. This motion was agreed to.

Miss Nellio E. Lines, daughter, of Mr. C.'Lines, AVai-iti, was to have left on active service in India by tlie Mooltan on Tuesday last, according to private advice received. Miss Lines has been on the' staff of No. 11 Australian General Hospital, Caulfield, Melbourne, for some time, and has now received promotion. She will take cfcargo work in India for a terra, and then go. on to England. \ Matron Bertha Nurse; N.Z.A.N.S., has received the lloyal Bed Cross of the First Class from the King 'at Buckingham Palace. Miss Nurse was trained at the Wellington Hospital, and had seen some services abroad (at tbo Anglo and Military Hospital in Cairo before the war), she went to Samoa with the N.Z.E.F., and is now patron .of No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockerihurst.

Mr. and Mrs. Cnrlinn, Mr. and Mrs. Kohn,_ Captain and Mrs. Oram, and Captain and. Mrs. Johnson arrived in Napier by motor-car from Wellington on Wednesday. ;

Amongst the guests staying at the Rutland Hotel. AVanganui, during the week were:—Mr. C. P. Skerrett, Miss Skerrett, Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Tonks, ; Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Phillips, Mr. J. I;. Bell, Mr. Robt. Irwin, Mr. F. Jilley, Mr. and Mrs. Alf. Fortune, Mr. and-Mrs. Stuart Hawthorne, Mr. P. H. O'Donnell, Mr. A. Goldsmith, Mr. A. L. Maysmor, Mr. and Mrs. 11. A. Fox, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. T. K. Nagle, Mr. W. P. Sommcrvillo, Mr. L. Sa.ndberg, Mr. C. F.. Burnett, Miss'l. Avlmer, Miss Oo'x, Mr. D. M'Leod, Mr.W.B. Judd, Mr. AVason, Mi.™ AVason, Mr. Crisp (Wellington), Mr: and Mrs. A.- E. Nott (London), Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Riddell, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Takle (Dannevirke), Mr. Thos. Price (Sydnev), Mr. and Mrs. Ogden,' Mr. A. H. Cole, Miss "Colo (Hawera), Miss Drake, Miss E. Coutts, Miss Cape (Now Plymouth), Mr. and Mrs. S. Kirkland, Mrs. Simpson, Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Curry, Mr. F. Stone (Palmcrston North), Mrs. K. Karton, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Spratt (Ohristcliurch), Mr. and Mrs. AA r . A. Curry (Bulls), Mr. Jas. Macluro (Marton), Mr. It. Spedding (AVaihi), Mr. and Mrs. Young (Eltham), Mr. A. Sharnian (Rangiwahia), Mr. and Mrs. A. AV. Gardner (Taihape), Mr. D. S. Small (Hunterville), Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Cornish, Mrs. Jackson (Opunakc), Mrs. Cornish (Melbourne), Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Dalton (Featherston), Mr. and Mrs. P. Smith, .Mr. C. Smith (Stratford), Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Rickey (AVaipukurau). Mrs. 11. M. Speed, Miss Speed (Mnk'irikrri), Mrs. Wells (Foilding), Mr. T. S. Booth (Ngutuwera), Mr. and Mrs. J. Lovoll Nicolls (Kakatihi), Mr. F. A. Jensen, Mr. D. Ogilvy, Mr. AV. C. Dorset, Mr. F. Dorset, Mr. AV. It. Duffy (Mastcrton), Mr. A. Sims, Mrs. AV. IT. Parkes, Mastor Parkes, Miss Jickcll (Auckland).