HOME SCIENCE CENTRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23169, 15 October 1938, Page 17

HOME SCIENCE CENTRES

Sir, —My attention has been brought to an article in the Auckland Hkkam) of October 6,' expressing dissatisfaction at the staffing of the manual training schools in the Auckland Province, and J nin writing to explain the situation through your paper, as i did publicly when in Auckland last May.

Three years ago I warned the University Council that, owing to the great reduction in the number of Homo Science Bursaries, and the cutting down of the amount of the bursaries, our numbers had dropped from 120 students to HO, and that they could anticipate a shortage of Home Science teachers unless something was done about the matter. This was reported to the University Senate and the report appeared in the Auckland papers, January, 1937, but no action was taken, and we have suffered the consequences.

This year, however, our numbers have again risen to 117, owing to the increase of bursaries and to my campaign throughout the Dominion, speaking in all the principal centres, and discussions with the Minister. There were .00 new entrants this year, and there will be 28 finishing the course this spring. In just one week there will be teachers available for appointment, and if the Auckland board wishes to secure teachers at once we can supply them. We are faced with the great need for larger hostel accommodation and we are making every effort to raise money to erect a new hostel. Wo have raised £2OOO by our personal efforts and are hoping for Government help, for an important part of the training is carried on in the hostel, where the students must demonstrate their ability in a practical way. T do not think a six months' course could prepare teachers in an efficient way for anything but cooking. We feel that a thorough knowledge of nutrition and all aspects of home-mak-ing is essential, for the real purpose of home science is to prevent sickness and disease, and to improve conditions of living, by training the next generation to bo efficient mothers and homemakers. A. G. Strong, 0.8. E. Dean of the Home Science School, Dunedin.