DRESSMAKING IN HIGH SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 69, 14 December 1907, Page 11

DRESSMAKING IN HIGH SCHOOLS.

The Masterton. District High School Com.mittee. recently , made application :'" to the Wellington Education Board for 'permission to establish a. sewinp; .'class of a. more advanced character ' than that proscribed by the standard ' regulations. The following is a report, prepared by the Board's chief inspector (Mr. T. .It. Fleming'), upon the question :— "Dressmaking and plain needlework, more advanced in clia.raoter than that required by standard.regulations, can be taught in standards 5 and (J, and in secondary classes. To cam a capitation of ss. per annum on each

unit of average attendance instruction must be given for 40 hours during the year, no lessen to he less than one hour, hut, may ho longer. The liumlier of pupils at each lesson must- not exceed .'J-"), it is very doubtful, whether the capitation HrSt would bo earned by schools able to comply with the above conditions would pay for tho services of a competent peripatetic teacher. The best method is for (he work to be undertaken by a member of the staff; the capitation thus earned would pay for (ho necessary material and apparatus, and also supplement tho salary.'lf, as the Mastorton committee states, no member on the present staff is qualified for the work, I feel sure there are somo members who would very- soon .qualify after a few lessons from a competent' instructor. This suggestion, was adopted in another district high school, and tho fees and expenses- incurred by the teacher were paid out of the capitation earned by the, class.. But if this method be not adopted, some competent ; needlewoman in Tvlasterlon might bo 'appointed at a. salary that could bo paid from the capitation earned by tho ; class. 1 This, might ho arranged by the | committee and the headmaster, and ; tbs arrangements forwarded, for the confirma\tion of the hoard. It is probable that in,a : town like Masterton as competent a needloi woman would be found as any tho board I might appoint. Bui the preferable course is I to appoint a member of the. staff to do the I work." ,' \ The board resolved that the. inspector's reI port be. forwarded to tile Masterton cora- ( mittce.