DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7243, 31 July 1907, Page 1

DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICA AND ENGLAND.

During her recent visit to America and England with her husband, Professor MacCallum, of Sydney University Mrs MacCullum, who is now taking a leading part in the movement to establish a school of domestic science in Sydney, took advantage of the opportunity to inspect many of the institutions established to that end in the countries named, and study .the conditions prevailing therein. _ "Though America is far in advance of England in respect to the complete manner in which domestic, science in -very branch is being taught,' said Mrs MacCallum, when interviewed on the subject, "there is still -a vast amount of solid work being done in England. The value of domestic trai, n" ing is not overlooked, in all tho leading towns, and ala-v m country centres, domestic science classes ing- held. Still, it i sin the United Stales that the subject of teaching ciornostic science has been taken up with, preatest enthusiasm, and. the greatest progress made. All the same, the various schools and colleges have scarcely been established sufficiently long to permit of their . exerting, any marked influence on the domestic problem as it affects the whole community. At present, the vast majority of householders in the United States employ, as domestic servants, German or Swedish girls," who .' are generally better trained in domestic duties, by their home life, than girls belonging to tne Anelo-Saxon races. , . . "One of tho results which it is anticipated will accrue from the scientific and thorough training of girls in home duties is the attraction of many of better education than the mass cf those-who now fill positions as domestic servants. This will probably take place, as it has done in the nursing profession; but* as far as I could ascertain, most of those undergoing courses of domestic science at the American institutions were themselves domestic servants, whose fees were paid by their mistresses. There were certainly also a number of young women of superior education, the daughters of the professors of the universities being among them in a number of- instances.

"It is too early yet to state what effect the training of skilled domestic assistants has had on the wages paid. Wages in America are, as everybody knows, generally high, and a good do-

•r.c-tis servant of the ordinary type will command about 25s weekly and her keep. For this wago she is expected to do considerably more than the Australian general servant does, as a rule. People who would keep two servants in this country contrive to do with one in America, and as the Amcr'ican sees that he gets good value for his money on all occasions, the servant has to lead the strenuous life. Still, I believe, that in the few cases whore girls trained in domestic institutions have gone out into the labour market they have been able to command wages considerably higher than those paid to the girl-.who has merely picked, up her" knowledge of household duties by rule of thumb."

Mrs MacCallum says that so impor.tant has the subject of domestic science teaching been regarded in England that, recently, Miss Alice Havenhill was despatched, from England to America, at the joint request of the Board of Education, tho West Hiding County Council, and the Royal Sanitary Institute, to report upon *"its teaching in tho United States. In her report,'-Miss Ravenhill quotes the fol-. lowing, suggestions made in a paper read by Miss Haggonbbtham, ah American authority, before the Housekeepers' Alliance at Philadelphia: 1. We claim that the employer should offer fair conditions for efficient and faithful service, and that the employee should recognise that efficient and faithful service should be rendered for wages and just conditions. 2 A standard of work and wages should be established. 3. A fair amount of time should be allowed for rest and recreation. Stated tunes of absolute freedom should be agreed upon, and the privilege snould bo accorded, within due limits of receiving and entertaining friends.' 4. Everything reasonable should be done to lessen the drudgery of house-

5. As steps towards lessening the disadvantages of household service employers should give their attention to the subject of bakeries and laundries.

6. To abolish private ' employment' agencies and intelligence offices, and substitute either Government omplovnwnt bureaus or reputable business institutions like the Employment Bureau of the Housekceprs' Alliance, which shall be conducted with intelligent regard for the .office they fill . Mrs MacCallum recognises that a tamily generally wishes to be alone Without any parade of social superiority, it does not wish its domestic assistant.to bo with it at every meal and during its conversations in the draw-ing-room. On.the other hand, the welleducated ; young woman, who justly considers herself the social equal of tho family which employs her, might <be inclined to resent segregation in the kitchen. But.Mrs MacCullum sees no .difficulty in this respect. Employers will have to recognise that decent, 'comfortable quarters must be provided for their domestic assistants. If that is done; she contends, a girl skilled in domestic science will be able to keep her kitchen in such a condition that when her intelligently-applied labour has cleared it for the day, it may be converted into a comfortable, if not artistic, sittinjrrooin, in which she may receive her friends without humiliation.