WHAT TO TEACH?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 4, 29 September 1917, Page 8

WHAT TO TEACH?

A PROBLEM IN A SCHOOL. Ono of the new things—old-fashioned folic call theni "fads'.'-discovered by-the people who call themselves "educationists"- or "educationalists"—is a subject, or group of: subjects, called domestic science. It is really a very old, art, this that is called in-plain speech "keeping house," but tho notion of teaching it in school and the methods of teaching it are more or less- strange to us. Mr. Hindmarsh spoke in tho House of Representatives last night about the difficulties experienced in introducing the domestic scieuco courso' into the Wellington Girls' ; College. The teacners were not available, and it. was difficult/ or impossible to get the. space to accommodate-' classes. Really the Collcgo Governors found it very hard to go on with the course. ■ . . Mr. Hanan: They don t want to. Mr Hindmarsh snowed his surprise at this retort of the Minister of Education, and asked him what he was going to ao about it. ■""-.. , , Mr. Hanari: 1 am. going to seo that domestic science has its proper place in the.education system of this country. (Hear, hear.) ■ Mr. Hindmarsh: "Splendid! I applaud this noble sentiment!" And then he went on to scoff a little more "bout this new idea,, and ho made no. excuses for his statement.that schools did not exist for turning out cooks. He had nirKlc-a that it was good for girls to learn This'provoked the scorn of Mr. Isitt. Mr. Hindmarsh: Oh, you -know as much about botany m you do about theo!ogy-(loud laughter)-and that isn t much. I suppose that is why ynu 101. the church. .