DOMESTIC SCIENCE

Evening Star, Issue 16335, 30 January 1917, Page 8

DOMESTIC SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY SENATE'S ACTION COMMENDED BY MINISTER OF EDUCATION. [Special to the ‘ Star.’] WELLINGTON, January 30. Speaking to your correspondent yesterday, the Minister of Education expressed warm approval of the action the University Senate had taken on his representations regarding the encouragement of the study of domestic science in the secondary schools. He believed that the attention given by the Senate to this and other practical phases of education would tend to stimulate interest in higher education. The importance of domestic science had been impressed upon him in his examination of the Dominion's education, system, and he had urged, in a memorandum presented to Parliament, that ns far as practicable all girls in secondary schools should he taught the subject in a practical way. Tho Minister also expressed approval of the method suggested by the Senate Committee for encouraging the study of domc.stio science. Each girl candidate for matriculation or for the intermediate examination should be required to present a certificate stating _ that she had had a satisfactory course in domestic science. The subject was one that did not lend itself readily to lest by examination, and he regarded this really as an advantage, since it would tend to give a practical turn to the training. The Minister suggested that girls should bo allowed some concession in consideration of their proficicucy iu domestic science. Tho subject was already an optional one. for matriculation, so that any girl might include it in her subjects for that examination. The Senate might reach the desired end either by making the subject a compulsory one for girls, or by giving some allowance or compensation to those"who followed the course but did not take the subject for examination. The Minister offered the opinion that if any claims for making Latin or mathematics compulsory could be urged, a doubly stiw claim could be put forward on behalf of domestic science, as far as girls were concerned. Education aimed at enablin'®- people to enter into the fullest and inost"fruiiful relations, with their best possible envirnnment. Surely there could be no possible doubt of the necessity for including in every girls education some domestic training which would enable her to appreciate fuHv and to make the most skilful and earnest. u?p of the home, in which she would find her noblest development and opportunities. “If any further argument is needed," added (Mr Hanan, " let anyone take the various ?ub jects on the matriculation syllabus and indicate any one subject that for girls should displace domestic science.' 1