DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1917, Page 8

DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

'.MINISTER APPROVES OF SENATE'S ACTIOS. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, -January 30. Speaking- to your -correspondent, Hon. J. A. Hunan, Minister of Education, expressed warm approval of the action of the University Senate, taken upon hisi representations, regarding the encouragement of domestic science in secondary schools. The Minister stated tliat attention given by the Senate to this and other similar practical phases of education would tend to create a greater interest in and appreciation of higher education. He himself for sonic time, and particularly in his recent memorandum presented to Parliament, had urged that as far as practicable all girls in secondary schools should, in view of the valijp of their future womanhood, be taught domestic science in a practical wa v.

Mr. Hanan expressed approval of the method suggested by the Senate Committee for encouraging domestic science... Each girl candidate for Matriculation or for the Intermediate Examination should be required to present a certificate stating that she had completed a satisfactory course in domestic science. The subject- is one that does not very readily lend itself to test by examination, and this is really an advantage, since we ivish to have practical domestic training, but girls might be allowed some concession in consideration of tlieir proficiency in domestic science. Domestc science is already an optional subject for the Matriculation examination, so that any girl may include it in her five subjects for that examination. To reach the desired end, the Senate might either make the subject a .compulsory one for girls or give some allowance or compensation to these who follow the course but do not take the subject for examination. Mr. Hanan expressed the opinion that if any claims for making Latin or mathematics compi'lsory could previously hi! urged, doubly strong claims could be made in favor of making domestic science compulsory for girls. Education aimed at enabling people to enter into the fullest- and most fruitful relations with their best possible environments Surclv there could be no possible doubt of the necessity For including in every girl's education some domestic training .which would enable her to appreciate fully and to make the most skilful and earnest use of the possibilities of tlie home in which she will find her noblest development and opportunities. If any further argument is needed, let anyone inkc the various on the matriculation syllabus and indicate any one .subject that should for girls displace domestic science.