DOMESTIC SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 22440, 10 September 1936, Page 6

DOMESTIC SERVICE

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE raisihg the professiohal stahdard “ There is no reason why housekeeping should not be raised as a profession to a higher standard tiiau )t stands at present. It is just as necessary to cook meals as to repair teeth or wave hair,” said Professor A. G. Strong, while discussing with a ‘ Star ’ representative the remarks made in Parliament by Mr T. D. Burnett when he suggested making domestic service as attractive a profession as dental nursing. Mr Burnett’s suggestion was to adopt a system of apprenticing girls leaving school to housewives of reputation and standing so that they would learn their profession thoroghly. A scheme having similar objects had been, drawn up by Miss Violet M'Millan, organiser of the Association of Country Education. It aimed at raising the status of the domestic worker by encouraging intelligent and selfrespecting girls to take up domestic work, and by giving them suitable training and a diploma of capability and character. It would also ensure that they received adequate remuneration for their services as well _ as enabling them to form an association possessing its own club rooms and placement bureau in the city. The scheme drawn up by Miss M'Millan provides for a building and staff for training the students in housework, sewing and mending, child carei cooking, laundry work, and catering, to mention only a few subjects. A voluntary committee of capable housewives would then be formed, to take the trainees into their homes to work for definite periods as apprentices at a low remuneration. The girls would be examined by a board whiJi would award the certificates of capability. It was suggested that the service be controlled by representatives of the Departments of Education, Labour, and home science, and the Home Economics School and of the trainees. This committee would supervise the selection and training of trainees, confer the certificates, and standardise the’hours of work and the remuneration for members. The examining: committee and staff would also be appointed by the committee. The suggested staff of the school was a principal, who should be a capable domestic worker, and full and parttime teachers as required. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. With regard to the financial aspect, Professor Strong said that it would be essential to have some measure of Government assistance. If the building were suitable, boarders such as working girls and professional women could bring in a fair return. All members would pay a small annual membership fee for enrolment on the books of the placement bureau. The employers, on their part, would pay a fee for the services of the employment bureau. While undergoing training in the school, the- trainees would be in residence and would give their services in return for their training and keep. Whilst working out their apprenticeship, however. they would receive from their employer half the normal, wage, while unemployed members could _ reside at the school for limited periods at the discretion of the board and principal at less than standard boarding fees. , SUGGESTED PROCEDURE. As it would probably be inadvisable to commence with the whole scheme, it was suggested that ic should be as- ■ certained from the Minister of Labour 1 whether the scheme would be likely to prove satisfactory, and if so, whether iinancial support would be forthcoming in the event of its being proceeded • with The St. Helens and Batchelor j Hospitals, which will be vacated in the Inoar future, were suggested as being possible suitable buildings. 1 If approval were given, a committee of directors could be appointed as outlined above. The requisite number of housewives would then bo selected from organisations affiliated to the National Council of Women. Following this the preliminary organisation could be carried out, and then suitable applicants for membership would be admitted, either after examination or on the testimony of previous employers. Intending trainees would then be enrolled, and those already fairly proficient would bo placed in homes for apprentice training. It is considered that within a year the time would be ripe for the launching of the whole scheme with the training school. The girls would not require a long training, said Professor Strong, but i intensive courses of six weeks or two months would be sufficient. There would have to be research carried out, however, to discover what was required • by the greatest number and tho best means of meeting the demand. | One school which was conducted on similar lines in the United States took girls during the depression and gave them free tuition for the first term. They then went out to work, thereby earning sufficient to pay for their second term’s instruction. PHASES OF WORK. The work would have to be in four distinct phases: (1) Selection of trainees to ensure only those physically and psychologically suited were admitted, (2) Training which would eventually raise the status of the household employee. (3) Placement of the trainee. (4) A “ follow-up ” programme, providing the opportunity for teachers of the training school to evaluate the content and methods of the class work in terms of the needs of tho many situations found in different homes. EMPLOYERS’ PART. Not all tho liability lies with the girl, however, for, in an educational programme for household employment issued by the United States Department of the Interior, it is suggested that “ the employer will at all times show regard for the individual personality of the girl and respect her privacy,” while “the employer will

take an interest in meeting both the girl friends and the boy friends of the girl she employs. She will take a friendly interest in the girls’ recreational problems and interests.” With regard to wages, when food and lodging are reckoned as part payment, it is usually allowed that one hour of work pays for one meal and four hours of work for three • meals and lodging. The, programme then goes on to deal with codes of ethics and the various methods which might be used. Suggested classes would include marketing, care of food, its preparation, table setting and service for formal and informal occasions, laundering, and care and cleaning of the house.