Education A Life-time Matter

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31062, 18 May 1966, Page 2

Education A Life-time Matter

The need for women to continue their education throughout life, and to give more voluntary community service was emphasised at the Washington congress of the International Federation of Business and Professional women, which the New Zealand president (Miss P. L. Gapper) attended.

Miss Gapper told members of the Christchurch club last evening of the “challenging and thought-provoking” addresses given at the congress.

The international president, Miss Helen Irwin of the United States, issued three “challenges’” to the 1460 women attending from 30 countries.

“Miss Irwin said we must reach out to qualified women from all cultures in many more countries; unite to meet the needs of changing economic patterns; work for those things which make peace and keep alive human values in a machine age.” Miss Gapper said that obtraining fuller use of womens’ skills through co-operative action was the theme of Mrs Esther Peterson’s address. Mrs Peterson is Assistant Secretary of Labour in the United States. “She reminded us that we must no longer divide the work of the world into men’s of women's jobs. Life is a

joint venture in which all must contribute their best talents.

“If women were to work together to help solve the problems of hunger, sickness and ignorance which plague the world we could also enhance the status of women. If we were to prove capable, demand for our services would grow and women would be accorded partnership in many undertakings.” Dr. T. Wolfson, professor of economics at Brookline College, City University of New York, spoke of the problems of automation.

Quoting Dr Dorothy Ford’s speech Miss Gapper said rapid technological development, with constantly increasing demands for more highly trained women, made adult education a vital issue in every country. Not only could women be trained to participate in society at its highest level, but they could also become more selective in the use of leisure time. The American Business and Professional Women’s Clubs held classes, some taken by their own members, on many subjects including investments, public speaking, parliamentary procedure, speed and remedial reading, foreign trade, and great books.