HOME-SCIENCE CLASSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 375, 8 June 1928, Page 13

HOME-SCIENCE CLASSES

MR. STRONG’S DECISION “MUST NOT BE REMOVED” (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Thursday. “As Director of Education I shall feel it my duty to oppose any attempt to remove this subject of home science from the curriculum of girls at secondary schools.” This was the answer of Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, to some of the speakers at the Council of Education who suggested that there was too much home science being taught in schools. Mr. J. R. Kirk, agreeing with him, said: “In the interests of all girls and of their future husbands, I propose that home science should be retained as a compulsory subject for all junior free pupils. If girls could learn the relative values of foods many doctors’ bills would be avoided.” Seconding the proposal, Miss N. E. Coad said she was surprised there should be any difference of opinion. The trouble up to the present was that they had young and inexperienced teachers, but that was being overcome. In the opinion of Mr. J. E. Purchase there was far too much chemistry in home science. “I am not going to fight a battle on behalf of home science,” said Mr. Strong. ‘The point for the council to concentrate upon is what sort of science should be taught to our girls. We are all agreed that girls should be taught some form of homecraft and that the science of dietary is of paramount importance.” “It seems to me not to be the principle that we differ over, but the syllabus,” suggested Mr. Kirk. He thought they could, in spite of the Minister, carry on with home science. When the question was put to the vote the motion to retain home science as a compulsory subject was carried. An amendment by Mr. Howell, that hygiene, elementary dietetics and home arts should be substituted for home science, was defeated.