TYPISTS CRITICISED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 24

TYPISTS CRITICISED

IGNORANCE OF WORDS NEED FOR GENERAL CULTURE Typists who would be better employed as cooks are criticised by Miss Carolyn Slocum, president of the Transcription Supervisors' Association of New York. "A pleasing appearance and general cultural background are quite as important as speed in taking dictation," said Miss Slocum "The greatest handicap of young women to-day is their lack of general culture. They show the most shocking ignorance of words and the essentials of common knowledge. Too many girls are permitted to study shorthand —girls who have no aptitude for language and who would make much better cooks." An advertisement appeared recently ill a leading London paper. It was for a governess and a cook in a big houte in Mayfair. There were 70 applications for the post of governess and only two for that of cook. The Board of Education's decision to launch a nation-wide campaign to create better housewives—and better cooks—seems therefore to come at an opportune moment. As a beginning, the board plans to look into and overhaul the teaching of domestic subjects in elementary schools, with special attention to cooking. In many schools, apparently, cooking is either very badly taught or not taught at all. A committee under the chairmanship of Mrs. 10. M. Lowe has been formed to look into the subjects taught, the methods u«ed, the accommodation and equipment available, the qualifications of the teachers; and the arrangements for the provision of cooking materiajs and for the disposal of the things actually cooked in class.