COMPROMISE ADOPTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 43, 20 February 1929, Page 10

COMPROMISE ADOPTED.

NEEDLEWORK INSTRUCTION.

NECESSARY MINIMUM.

POSITION IX COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

Small as the time allowed for needlework instruction is in schools below grade three, where only a male teacher is employed, the Auckland Education Board is of opinion that it represents a necessary minimum. Inspectors raised the question in a memorandum whether the present allowance of two hours should be reduced to one hour a week. "I don't think there should be any reduction," said the chairman, Mr. A. Burns. "It would mean a saving of only a few shillings to do away with the sewing mistress."

The secretary, Mr. D. W. Dunlop, agreed with the chairman and said that often in the small country schools the time was reduced to one hour.

Mr. Burns: Yon don't think every man ought to sew on his own buttons ♦ (Laughter.)

Mrs. NT. E. Ferner was also opposed to a reduction, but said sewing instruction in tlio schools should be supplemented in the homes.

As a compromise it was decided to adopt a suggestion by the Education Department that the minimum time s-hoiild not be less than sixty hours h year. The Department stated it was not aware of any suggestion having been iriado by the school committees or parents for a reduction in the time.