COOKERY GLASSES IN SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9511, 20 August 1892, Page 6 (Supplement)

COOKERY GLASSES IN SCHOOLS.

At a meeting of the Education Board on Thursday the following letter was received from Mr M. Cohen :—

August 18,1892. The Chairmen and Members of the Education

Board. . Gentlemen,—Seeing that several cookery classes have been formed in connection with the public schools in this city, and that others will probably be soon established, I have taken tho liberty of bringing, under the notice of your hoard the desirability of including "cookery" in the curriculum of the primary schools, and of expressing the hope that you will use your influence to that end. I think I am correct in saying that cookery has a recoguiseel place in the school courses of most countries; and also correct in assuming that the importance and utility of this special branch of instruction are recognised by your board. The experience of the class at the Union street school, under Mrs Miller, whilst I was a member of that school committee, pointed to two things—first,, that unless the instruction given in the class counts aa part of the school work the teacher ami class are alike placed at a disadvantage; second, that the imposition of a fee, however small, acts as a deterrent in keeping from attendance a number of girls who ought to be in the class, and for whom it was specially established. I refer to those girls whose circumstances will not allow them to go through the school course, but who have to seek situations or help the household as soon as possible after they have gone through the compulsory standards. It has occurred to me that possibly the Minister for Education would be able to see his way to ameud his Manual and Technical Education Bill by allowing cookery to count as a class for earning the grant to be given under that bill. If that view commends itself to your board and to the Hon. the Minister, committees would be in a position to establish cookery classes without feeling the difficulty they now experience of having to make special efforts to provide ways and means. As showing the favour with which the class at "Union street was regarded by the parents of the children who attended it, I forward for your perusal some of the replies I received to a circular I addressed to them on this subject. They are typical of the rest, and go to show, I think, that parents will be glad to sco cookery classes permanently established in connection with our largest schools.

The Chairman snid that this was not a matter they could decide at once, and he would suggest that they let the communication lie on the table until next meeting, as it might open a very important question. Mr Green remarked that it would be a good thing if laundries were established in connec-' tion with schools.

The Chairman : At that rate there will be no teaching at all soon.. The letter was allowed to stand over till next meeting.