UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1917, Page 5

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

OVERPRESSURE IN GIRLS. INVESTIGATION UNNECESSARY 15y Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, January 25,' Tho question of over-pressuro of studies and consequent risk of injhry to pupils iu girls' secondary schools, was the subject of discussion in the University Senate. The matter was introduce eil by a recommendation from the en« traiico examination committee to fch«t following effect: —"That the Senate b« i recommended to make a comprehensive investigation into the question of over pressure Vt girls' secondary schools." Professor Chilton, convenor of th< committee, in presenting the* recommendation, said it was the outcome o( a discussion at the Secondary Schools Conference, at which t'lio following rei solution was carried: "This committea of lady members of the Secondary Schools Couferenco is of opinion that the provisions for free ' secondary education now available for girls have so minimised the rifles of over-prcs9ure that no injury to the health of candidate for Univeristy entranco examinations b likely to occur, provided judicious cart ii exercised by the head mistresses ol girls' secondary schools." The fommitteo desired the. conference to forward this resolution to the Board of Studies, as it. was felt that it was not in a position to come to a definite conclusion upon it, because it had no information except that from persons moro or less interested. The Boatd, therefore, passed a resolution asking the Senate tq make an investigation. , Professor Segar moved, as an amend* mcnt, that the words "at- some future date" be added to the recommendation. ■He did noti see that there was anything to be gained from an order for an investigation when the principals of girlsf secondary schools bad asserted that no over-pressure existed. It was * known ! fact that many kdy students took UJ the study of music and other accomplishments outside the school work, and it was generally owing to these addii tional tusks that their 'health broke down. The amendment was lost and the clause was rejected, it being considered that no necessity existed for tka investigation. STUDY OF DOMESTILC SCIENCE A telegram received by the Chancellor of the Univeristy (Sir Robert Stout)' from Mr. Ilairan, Minister for Education, a few days ago, urging the Senate to give further encouragement to lady, students to study domestic science, resulted in the following recommendation being submitted to the Senate by the Education Examination Committee, to which the telegram had been referred:—• "Tho committee recommends that every, girl entering for matriculation or entrance scholarship shall forward to the registrar, with lier application, n certificate from the principal of the last school attended, or from some other responsible person, stating that she has taken a course in domestic science." Professor Chilton said the cominitteo /, considered the matter a very important one, because it affected the training ot the future wives and mothers of our young nation, and it therefore received sympathetically the request of the Minister. It: was'generally agreed that domestic science .should be a compulsory subject for girls, but thero were various dilliculticß in the way of making it sunk The recommendation was adopted.