EDUCATIONAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1367, 12 May 1898, Page 30

EDUCATIONAL.

COOKERY GLASSES. If it be true, as some cynic has suggested, that the question " Is marriage a failure ?" is often answered in the kitchen, the inauguration by the Education Board of classes for instruction in domestic economy should be hailed with satisfaction. At present, judging from the programme, these would be more correctly called cookery classes. But as it may be intended to at some future time include other branches of housework, and as, in any case, what is done at the cooking range has so much to do with the problem, ever present in most households, of making ends more than meet, the wider and higher-sounding title may be allowed to stand. It is true that many worthy housewives are inclined to sneer at cookery classes, and affect to find in the very name of them a suggestion of everything that is unpractical and extravagant. These may be asked whether in Miss Ivey's programme' can find, anything that is wb

in the highest degree practical and economical. Of course, cookery should be taught in the home; but under the modern industrial system it cannot always be learnt there. What is the educational experience of many a girl in New Zealand ? Five or six years at a State school, during which period her lessons in and out of school hoars leave her no time to become acquainted with other than a few of tbe lighter home duties. From school she goes to the factory, the workshop or the office, and there has even less time, and certainly les3 inclination, for work at home. Then? she marries, and very often it is not; until then that she undertakes household duties in earnest. She has to learn by experience, which is not undor the circumstances the moat satisfactory method. It is, presumably, to give such instruction to girls of this class as shall be of value to them in maxried life that the Education Board's classes are being started. The teacher of cookery has to consider the circumstances of those who form the majority of her pupils. In Great Britain there has been a revolt against teaching which overlooks the value of time and bases recipes on mcney-no-object lines. The demand of the day is for instruction in first principles. It will, therefore, bo noted with pleasure that the programme commenced yesterday is eminently practical. It may be scanned in vain for dishes that have French names,, or entail large expense. Should the learning be as thorough as there is reason to believe the tuition will be, many a man and woman will have cause to be grateful to the Education Board.

The appointment by the Governor-in-Council of Messrs J. Graham, M.H.R., A. W. Hogs, M.H R , P. J. O'Regan, IVT.H.R., and Dr James to b 8 members of the Victoria College Council is gazetted. The Wellington Girls' High School re-opens on Wednesday, the 25th inst. Misß Hamilton, the head-mistress,will receive parents of pupils from 3 till 6 p.in on Monday and Wednesday, 23rd and 25th inst. The progress of the school may be judged from the fact that at the last University examinations 14 pupils passed the matriculation examination, all of them also qualifying for the Solicitor's General Knowledge Pass; three obtained high places in the "credit" list in the Junior Univejsity scholarship examination, and one kept the first year's term of her University course. Six pupils qualified for a '•partial D" teachers' certificate, seven passed the Junior Civil service and two passed the Senior Civil Sarvice examinations. Prospectuses may be obtained from Messrs Whitoombe and Tombs, Messrs Brothers and from the secretary (Mr C. P. Powles). 3ljj£A.t a well-attended meeting of householders, held in the Baptist Church, Brooklyn, last week, Mr C. Wilson, M.H.R., iu the chair, the subject of the removal of the Vogeltown School building to Brooklyn was discussed. Mr Wilson gave an account of an interview which Mr Fulford (chairman of the school committee) and himself had with the Education Board at its laat meeting. A discussion ensued, in which Messrs Dineen, Fulford, Teaze and Walters took part. A resolution was eventually carried on the motion of Mr J. Ros«, seconded by Mr W. Mummery, to the effect that in view of the necessity which exists for the immediate removal of the State school to Brooklyn, the householders of that district are willing that the children's winter holidays should be extended so as to make a total vacation of five or six weeks, provided the Board make arrangements for re-erecting the school building on the Brooklyn site during the interval. The meeting closed with a heacty vote of thanks to Mr Wilson for the trouble he had taken in this and other matters affecting the school. 1 he second term at the Fitzherbert terrace School begins on Monday, 30 th inst. The second term at Wellington College commences on June Ist. The first meeting of the Victoria Coliege Council will take place in about a fortnight's time. The Otago Universiiy has passed resolutions expressive of its regret at the loss sustained by the death of Professor Parker and Mr W. M. Maskell. The domestic economy classes arranged by the Education Board commenced in the downstairs lecture-room at the Board's offices on Tuesday, under the direction of Miss Gertrude Ivey. The morning class was composed of 20 girls from the Mount Cook school, and the afternoon class of 20 girls from the Thorndon School. The classes will be continued each school-day. Girls from the other schools —To Aro, Newtown, Terrace, Clyde quay and Rintoul street attend during the remainder of the week. The morning class opens at half-past 10 o'clock, and the afternoon c'ass at; a qtw.tf;r to two. Each class receives two nones' tuition. The present arrangement is for the schools to send in rotation 20 girls from the sixth and seventh standard classes. Each child is required to attend provided with an apron and sleeves and an exercise-book and pencil. Miss Ivey, who has a pleasant manner, and appears to be eminently practical, made a successful beginning yesterday, and her pupils seemed to be much interested in their work. Following is the table of dishes for the first term of the cookery classes commenced in this city on Tuesday under the auspices of the Education Board: —1, Boiled potatoes and cabbage ; 2, Irish stew, baking powder bread; 3, roast beef, "Yorkshire or batter pudding; 4, boiled mutton with carrots, turnips, rice pudding ; 5, suet pudding, mutton broth; 6, potato soup, scones; 7, porridge, apple and tapioca pudding; 8, sago pudding, boiled fish; 9, haricot mutton, custard; 10, rolypoly, baked fish; 11, tripe and onions, eggs.