UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 19

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

IMPORTANCE IN AMERICA VALUE TO GIRLS WHO WORK After an absence from Auckland of six years, Miss Fay Bovle, a daughter of the United States Consul for New Zealand, Mr. Walter Boyle and Mrs. Boyle, returned by the Monterey yesterday morning. When Miss Boyle left Auckland six years ago it was her intention to stay in America for two or three years, but her position as secretary to the Chevy Chase Junior College in Washington, D.C., so held her interest that she yielded to its fascination and remained much longer than she had at first intended. Any seat of learning is usually invested with an atmosphere of routine and discipline, but such impressions melt away instantly when one sees a photograph of the Chevy Chase College. Formerly an old colonial house, its architecture is beautiful and its finelyappointed class rooms are a pleasure to see. Standing in acres of beautiful forest land, with smooth lawns surrounding the actual buildings, it is a delightful spot, and Miss Boyle's affection for the place can readily be appreciated. The college at which Miss Boyle was secretary is one of a system of colleges in the United States for girls who intend eoing on to the universities. At Chevy Chase there are. about 100 pupils and "classes are so arranged that not more than 15 pupils are taught each subject at a time, with the result that more personal instruction is given. The subjects the girls take are regulated somewhat by what they plan to do when their education is completed. "American girls are flocking to the universities," Miss Boyle said yesterday. "When they have completed their school training they do not like to sit back and do nothing as a rule. When a girl graduates from high school she desires a little more advance in education and until she settles something definite in her mind she attends university." A university education was an important factor to a girl in search of work, unless she had influential friends who could vouch for her ability, Miss Boyle said. One of the first questions asked by a prospective employer was whether the applicant for a position had been to a university, and the uni-versity-trained girl was almost always given preference. Asked whether girls wero looked upon favourably as suitable employees in America, Miss Boyle said they had practically no difficulty in obtaining positions until the depression came, at which time, of course, men and women alike were similarly affected. Many employers had found that girls were sometimes a little keener than men occupying similar positions. Secretaries, in particular, were invariably found to be girls and women. Girls in America received very good wages and, on the whole, worked conscientiously for them.