TEACHING HOME ARTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 5

TEACHING HOME ARTS

o USEFUL CAREER FOR WOMEN.Tho demand for, domestic science, teachers in England is at. present larger than tho supply, and this demand shows every sign of increasing rather than of diminishing (states tho London ".Time?"). Nearly all tho schedules drafted under Mr. Fisher's scheiAe of ; continuation schools by education authorities in different parts 1 of the country' include in some shape or form domestic science for girls in the continuation crosses. Some of these draft schedules are geed, some crowded with too many varieties of work, but all of them will necessitate tho employment of many more women teachers in the near future, and the demand will also be increased owing to the extended age for children in the elementary schools.

Under the new pensions scheme domestic science teachers are recognised. To a young te-acher the age of 60 years may seem a long way off, but there is the further consideration that if she marries and then, returns to work for the' last years of the pre-sixty period she will sf;ill be eligible for a pension. There are few branches of the teaching profession so pleasant or so practical in private life. It escapes* (lie tiresome teaching of the very young children, and moreover the pupils .look forward to their domestic classes as a break in the school routine and approach them in a spirit of enjoyment. Perhaps it is this latter fact that makes the domestic economy and cookery teacher "wear" tetter than her more harassed sisters. At the recent conference of the Association of Trained Teachers of Domestic Science, one could not help remarking their cheerful looks, their clear complexions, their smart, wellchosen clothes,. and their general 'air of well being. Unlike other teachers, their work supplies .them with' knowledge that they are daily and' hourly using in their home life. It is knowledge that is essentially advantageous if the teacher' marries—and tho marriage rate is very high among these women.

How useful the training ?an be for other work was seen man.v times during the war, when domestic scienco teachers were called upon to fill many different posts. The Navv and Army Canteen Board asked the loan of one of the 'domestic scienco organisers from the London County Council. Waacs, Wrafs. and Wrens absorbed teachers as administrators, hospitals as quartermasters, and institutions and hotels as wardens and housekeeper-managers. They did organising work all over the country arid,in the Ministry of Food were specially valuable in ali campaigns for national economy.

The cost of training is not great. Fees at most of the domestic economy training colleges are about ,£55 for two years' tuition, and £75 for three years. Maintenance costs about ,£sl for a year of three terms, hut towards this thero is a Government grant' for two years, of ,£2B a year if resident, and ,£ls a year.if nonresident. the differenco being based on a desire to encourage corporate life.

The London County Council teachers begin with a salary of ,£IOB and a war bonus of <£39 a year, nut there are posts at ,£l5O with board and residence, and the scale ranges to ,£4OO. and in some cases ,£SOO. Thero ore also administrative posts. Few, if any, domestic science teachers are out of employment at the' present time.