TRAINING IN HOUSECRAFT

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 41, 17 August 1921, Page 15

TRAINING IN HOUSECRAFT

THE NEW SCHEME IN PROGRESS.

Ninety girls, all of whom aye young and most are girie from factories, are now being trained at Canning Town Women's Settlement in all the elements of household craft (says Manchester Guardian). This is the firefc centre opened under the new scheme of the Central Committee for Women's Employment, by which girls unskilled in housework have a thirteen Weeks' course in cooking, laundry work, dressmaking, infant care, and general housekeeping. Woolwich opened a centre recently, and centres tidder the L.C.C have been opened at Camber'welL Deptford, and Showsditch. The girls at the Canning Town Centre, which is run by the West Ham Education Department, ard already learned in household lore. They have been in training, for four weeks, and are doing so well that housewives of the district are eager to secure them. Visitors to the settlement recently had an opportunity of seeing the whole course of training with the exception of the clas3 devoted to general knowledge. Half the girls were at work in the large hall. Some of them were learning to make their own cotton fvocks, aprons, and caps, and others, under-the direction of a V.A.D. corilmandant, were practising first aid or learning, with a'large doll as submissive modtel, how n, baby should, be washed, dressed, and fed. ■ They were very much interested in this, anfl if one of theni wore" ask«d a question about baby management the answer came in chorus from the whole class. The visitor \yho asked a guileless question to test their knowledge was so overwhelmed with the shocked seriousness of the massed reply that she did not venture to ask another. The. laundry class was ilot at work, but specimen garments which the girls had washed and ironed were exhibited. It is not, of course, the intention oJ the committee to train these students as expert laundresses. They are to be taught thtt sort of: work that ma.y be required' in any ordinary home.

EXPERIMENTING IN THE WAR-

DEN'S FLAT. Jn the cookery classes, which the" girls enjoy, they are taught how to make soup's^ millw puddings, sweets, and pa-stnes, how to prepare and cook vegetables, and how to cook joints. Thsy cook the dinneis for staff and pupils, and tlie visitors acknowledged that: they made very good cakes. The warden of the adjoining settlement, being both''optimistic and generous, has allowed tho stud'ertts, while li-c is away on holiday, to practise all tho arts of spring cleaning in his flat. They go up in detachments armed with mops and brooms, cleansing fluids, and polishes, and rub away with such- vigour that when he returns he, will be able to use the stove aa a mirror, and to skate on the linoleum Th« girls appreciate the chance of practising in a real home, and talk happily about their tasks. - -.. . . . ..

Most of those who were questioned said that hitherto they had worked in factories. Some' had been box-makers, many had been packers, few had had any real experience of housework. But they aaid they found it interesting, ahd they liked the variety of occupation. Two or three had-helped in houses as day workers. All knew something about house cleaning and kitchen work, but thefse said .they had learned a great deal since they came to the centre, and they realised the value of the training with right , methods. It' seems likely that nearly all the 'students will' enter ijoriiestio service, but they are hot obliged to do ,so, and it is quite- Worth.while trsining those wli6 arc going to marry and manage thoir.-own homes. PHYSICAL TRAINING. -The visitors were impressed; by the neatness ariii general ap'peanince of efficiency; of all, tho girls, forgetting that applicants como befpro a seleotioit c6inniittee which takes care that tho students chosen shall be -those who are likely to profit by the training. If any had wondered whether it were worth while including physical drill in the curriculum, they were satisfied when the girls lined up cheerfully to go I through their exoi'cise*. These were! healthy, jolly-lo6king girls, able to dance ! With zestj but they most certainly need- i ed to learn how to walk and how to hold themselves erect. The first month's drill has made a difference, but there is Still a great dea|-to be done before they i can go through' thoir housework with j the minimum of effort arid fatigue. It! may prove in the end.that this is the j most important part of the admirable training. ~