Woman-power as Necessary As Man-Power

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 172, 24 July 1939, Page 11

Woman-power as Necessary As Man-Power

EDUCATION IMPORTANT FACTOR In these days of “war-preparedness,” it is as necessary to liuvo efficient women-power as man-power. This is where the education of women is an important factor. In the event of war, women should bo able to take over important administrative and organising jobs, carry on the necessary businesses and professions as well as do the essentially feminine work of nursing and such like. It was the way women tackled jobs in the last war, that gave them the vote in England. We all know that the next year, if it comes, will be different. Everyone will be in the fighting line. Even so, initiative, a sense of responsibility, intelligence will be invaluable, and a nation which has physically and mentally efficient women will bo doubly strong. Although to a great extent, the educational training for both sexes is identical, the trouble is, that under tho present scheme of things, women are absorbed in domestic affairs and have little opportunity of putting their specialised educational training into practice.

Generally speaking, marriage means conscription for housework and child training. And this career is for life. To those who had chosen and trained for other work, it is often a life sentence. Yet when one reads the history of women’s education, ono realises what great strides have been made. The struggle is well-told in Margaret J. Tukes 44 A History of Bedford College for Women, 1849-1037,” recently published. She points out that Tennyson wrote 44 The Princess” in 1547 and said:— “Girls, knowledge is no more a fountain sealed.” Yet there was no university college for women in England until two years later, when Bedford College and Queen’s College opened in a very humble way to a few unusual females, one might almost say, peculiar females. Until then, the education of well-to-do girls had been left mainly in the hands of governesses, notoriously poorly paid. (What a scandal, what a mosalliance, when the son and heir fell in love with the governess?) In contrast, when a boy was born, a large sum of money, often running into four figures, was earmarked for his education. T\he educational classic in most girls schools was Miss Mangnall’s famous book of 4 4 Questions, ’ ’ published in 1 ISOO, and still the standard book of reference in 1860. Here are two questions and answers from it:— Q. What is the common maple? A. A low tree, common in woods and hedges, so much valued by tho Romans, that they gave an extravagant price for it for their tables. Q. Was it not commonly thought that Whittington inado his immense fortune by the sale of his cat? A. Yes, but it was not the whiskered mouse-killing cat, but the coasting, coal-carrying cat that realised his fortune.” Miss Mangnalls “questions” (and answers) strike us now as “bunk,” but they indicate tho value placed on women’s education at that time. The modern university examination paper may also sometimes appear to be “bunk” but it shows a distinct im-.