HOME SCIENCE LECTURE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 134, 13 July 1914, Page 4

HOME SCIENCE LECTURE.

BY PROFESSOR BOYS-SMITH. On Saturday afternoon Professor BoysSmith, a lady who occupies the Chair of Home Science in the Otago University, gave a most informative and interesting address on that subject to the members of the Christehurch Girls' Club. The meeting was held at Mrs Scott's residence, Park Terrace, and Miss Rolleston, president of the club, occupied the chair. Professor Boys-Smith, in the course of her address, gave what is more or less a new view of the question of higher education of women, and one that appeals to one irresistably by reason of the logic and soundness of its arguments; She began by speaking of .the difference between the sexes, and said that when the question had been thoroughly studied and digested, no one could help coming to tlic conclusion that education should rather tend to emphasise that difference than to obliterate it. Thus, while it was a splendid thing for women to master many of the subjects of a man 's education, it was not wise for them to follow in its entirety an educational scheme designed solely for men. Womenwere, first and foremost, the- homemakers and the mothers of the world, and therefore they should be taught to

perform the functions pertaining to both properly. She detailed how Chairs of Home Science came to be established in connection with the universities "at Home, Girton College (the speaker's own college) being the first to make the innovation in 1869. Three years later the Oxford and Cambridge Colleges followed suit, and the movement was gradually spreading, and the teaching of home science was becoming practically universal.

At first, when the project was mooted, ! it was looked upon as rather infra dig j

to include the teaching of domestic duties in a university course, which is generally regarded as something which makes for culture, or, as the speaker said she preferred to call it, complete education. It was said that you could not look upon cooking or laundry work as culture. But Professor Boys-Smith said

that when it was viewed in the light of science it took on an entirely different aspect. No one could understand cookery fully until they understood something of the chemistry of foodstuffs and studied dietics. It was the same wita laundry work, and, in fact, every branch of domestic work. Chemistry and science entered so largely into all that the stud/ of home science was a course of education so wide and far-reaching that it was difficult to say where it ceased. The suitability of food was another

i tiling to be considered. That which was I good for the agricultural labourer ! not' suited to the brain worker, and it | was an important thing, if one'was t<> ' get the best results from people, to i feed them not only well, but suitably. j The Professor gave some interesting ) details of her work at the Otago Unii versity, and* of the keen interest TlisI played by the students —there - are 4S—- ; in the subjects they take: She reiterated (her statement that if womenv were to be ! at their best and .finest they must follow la course of education Specially suited to them, and hot be content to slavishly follow that designed, only for men.

1 The speaker answered a;number of questions bearing on the subject of her i address, and a hearty vote of thanks to ; her concluded the meeting, | Afternoon tea was provided by Mrs j Scott ami her daughters at the conelu- • sion of the' address. -