COMPULSORY DIFFERENTIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 2

COMPULSORY DIFFERENTIATION

DANGEROUS TREND IN EDUCATION The following letter'has been received from i; correspondent, a well-known educationist, who emphasises the reactionary trend of our educational methods in' regard to tho training of our girls as compared to tho methods followed in other countries:— . Sir,—ln viow of tho approaching election of a representative of tho women teachers to a seat on the Council ot Education, will you kindly allow me tho courtesv of your columns to emphasise the soriouencss to girls of a question on which teachers are not yet in agreement? „ , . ,L Thorn is a section of people in tho Dominion who hold that girls and boys should bo trained in childhood tor » particular career in adult life; though in Sweden and other countries where early specialisation has born -tried it is liow' unanimously discredited. However, until tho question -is definitely sol tied here, it. behoves us to be careful that wo do. no. injustice, to girls, whoso education is as yet a comparative ly recent innovation. Unfortunately, the Education Department has in the past three years imposed compulsory vocational training on girls to their detriment' the' effect being that, if a girl desires to lako up a profession, her collego training is so inferior to that of a collego boy in the matter of science alone, that when .-.ho embarks <m her university course fho has to master in two years all tho scienco that a boy is allowed to gradually assimilate during a period of live years. Yet if she broko down in health, we .would he assured -by tho anti-woman party that it was duo to her unfitness .for higher education. Tho reconstruction schemes after the war arc going to affect women all over tho world. ■ Education is, therefore, uf paramount importance to girls, and women, must be ready to take their place on an equality with men as regards choice of occupation, ability, and remuneration. If the Council of Education persistsin the differentiation between girls and boys which its present members arc responsible for, New Zealand will stand alone in all the British possessions as a country adopting German methods of limiting 'a girl's opportunities. Teachers would bo well advised to elect new representatives on the council. The New Zealand University has lately degraded its powers and insulted women by deciding to accept from girl matriculation candidates a low standard of uiatnematics, on condition that they will take a complete course of home science. This was done at the instigation of the Education Council, and is a convincing proof of its intention to stamp women as being mentally inferior to men. Also, if girls havo no knowledge of science -xcept home science, and no knowledge of mathematics except elementary arithmetic, the woman leaelior in tho'future-is going to hold an iniiniteiy lower position than she does at present. She should adopt tho motto of tho Englishwomen who aro saving the Empire to-day as much as are our fine fellow's in tlio trenches: "Equal opportunities for all; and no compulsory differentiation.'" Had their education, been as inadequate as that of tho New Zealand girl, they could have done none of the professional v;ork or scientific research which thousands upon thousands are now engaged in. New Zealand girls may bo required to do it to-morrow; therefore teachers should wake up to the demands of the hour, and send to the Education Council a progressive woman who will see that every girl is allowed as good a chance as a boy. Under tho existing regime this is impossible.—l am, ° tC " ANTI-BETROGRADE.