A GIRLS'SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3042, 31 March 1917, Page 13

A GIRLS'SCHOOL

• . 4 ' D FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING 3 TEACHERS' VIEWS A proposal that a -vocational school for girls should be established in .Welliugcon was discussed by the Wellingj ton branch of the Now Zealand Educational Institute la&b night. r Miss \E. 31. Rowley submitted a m'o- ,. tion of which she had previously given [ notice, the effect of which was that "a second grade or. vocational high school" ( for girls should, bo established in Wel- , lington. in amplification of her proposal, Miss Rowley urged that another , school for girls in Wellington was . necessary, and ehe contended that there . was need for some school at which girls . not fitted for the pursuit of an acai demic career or unlit to take full adi- vantage of the course of studies in a secondary school could receive a train-' i ing from which they could derive , benefit. Such a school could relieve the overcrowded technical school of its girl pupils, and leave this school to devote all its attention to boys. At this proposed! new school half of tho day might be devoted to general culture subjects, such a's English, history, geography, and so on, and the other half could be devoted to really practical instruction in cooking, housekeeping, sewing, dressmaking, millinery, or in shorthand and typewriting, or other commercial subjects. She suggested that iti might be possible to have a creche attached! to the school. Many girls would derive great benefit from such instruction in practical domestic science, and.'in such vocational courses as might be offering to prepare them for callings a-t-'which tbey might later earn their living. One of her proposals .was that attendance at a secondary . school should be compulsory up to s the age of 15 years. The motion was seconded by Mr. A. C. Blake, but he made the reservation that he was not prepared without more consideration to approve all Miss Rowley's proposals for the working of the school. Mr. A. N. Burns suggested that the institute might with advantage• give more attention to the subject, and might draw up a scheme for submission to the authorities. For this; reason he hoped that this motion might be postponed until members had had the suggestions before them. He took exception to the term "second grade," saying that a. school with such a'designation would never have the confidence of parents. Miss P. Myers also objected to the name 1 "second grade," for the reason that it was not right that any particular olass of mind should be termed superior to another type, . both being useful. She thought that tho present was a good time to recast some of our ideas about tho training of girls. One of her ideas was that as for many years we must depend on our primary products, girls should be so trained as to develop in them a taste for country life. _ . ' Mr. u. Thomas said that it seemed that the work which-it was proposed should be done at this vocational school was very like that now done in the technical school. Ho would .rather see the institute, instead of advocating i the establishment of a new school; support the demand being made for a : i new technical school, which would per- j mit of the work of the school being ] realty efficiently done. ' j ■Mr. H. A. Parkinson said that the ! principal nart of Miss Rowley's motion was that in which sho proposed an ex-

tension of tlio school ago. He believed that compulsory education should continue- beyond, tho ago of fifteen years, although perhaps all the t'mo in thb later years need not bo spent at school He was sure.that if wo wore' to get the best out'of our soil tho people would have, to give more attention to tho education of the young. He would liiovp that the motion be postponed for further consideration at a later meeting. Miss Myers proposed to add to tho I amendment the following clause: 'and that a committee bo set up to report .to that meeting." . __ '" Tnis amendment, with the addition, was carried. For the purposes of preparing the report, Miss Rowley was associated with tho management com- ] mittec, this committee having power to add to its number.