THE CHAIR OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15063, 9 February 1911, Page 5

THE CHAIR OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE

PRACTICAL VALUE AND SCOPE OF

THE WORK,

IMPORTANCE TO THE NATION.

SOMETHING ABOUT MISS BOYS-

SMITH.

The high importance attached to the establishment of a Chair of Homo Soience and Economics at tho Otago University is no doubt fully realised by the community. Domestic science is a braJich of learning which yet needs somo introduction to this country, and for tliat and other reasons an interview on tho subject of Domestic Science which a Daily Times reporter had with Miss Boys-Smith, who has just arrived in Duncdin from England to fill the chair at the Otago University, and something about tho personal' history and career of that lady will b; read with interest. PERSONAL HISTORY.

Miss Winifred L. Boys-Smith, on her | father's side, comes of a stock which is literary, educational, and scientific. Her father,' the Rev. John Boys-Smith, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge, died while still quite a young man, but Had nevertheless made a name both as a preacher and a writer. While chaplain to tho British Consulate at Warsaw in 1856-61 (during his tenure of which tho disastrous Polish Insurrection occurred), he was appointed "Special Ocrrespondorit" to Ths Times, and wrote a scries of articles on the Poles and Poland which proved a considerable factor in influencing public opinion in Britain at that date. His father, the Rcotor of Gumfreston, was well known as a geologist at a timo when geology was yet in its infancy; and (to go farther back still) it is to the Boys family of Layer Mamey that Miss BoysSmitli owtos much of tho educational, scientific, and literary bent which is ono of her assets to-day. Her mother was a daughter of S. F. Cox, captain of the First Life Guards, of Sondford Park, Oxon, and Emily Sheffield, daughter of Six Robert and Lady Sheffield,' of Normanby. The Cox family have, fop generations, been a family of soldiers, and Captain S. F. Cox distinguished himself as a young ensign at the Battle of Waterloo, when the "Household Brigade" had be«;n ordered to the front by tho King to meet Napoleon's famous Guards, CAREER.

Miss Boys-Smith was educated at Turnbridge Wells High School, where she Tory shortly gained a mathematical scholarship for Girton College, Cambridge, taking l'irst Classes in ©ach section of th© subject, with " Distinction" in the higher brancit/js of mathematics—i.e., in Analytical an/i Geometrical Conies, and in Differential und Integral Calculus. Once at Cambridge, howc\er, her natural bout made her decide to road for the Natural Science Tripos, and :.l,e took the Full Honours Course from October, 1891, to Juno, 1894, attending the. Uuniversiiy and College Lectures in Biology. Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Zoology, and Physiology, and doing very complete practical work in the University ..-jjid College laboratories, under Professors Frank Darwin, Adam Sedgwick, Seward, Sir Michael Foster, Dr Shore, Mr Pattiscv.i Mtiii, Miss Freund, Miss Marion Greenwood, Miss Saunders, and ol ; vs. Bc/.'orc going to college she had silent two years yachting up the west coast of Scotia; nd, to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, and then across to Norway. She thence travelled to Europe, her journeyings including Italy, Sicily and Malta, while at, subsequent dates she visited France, '.Switzerland, and America, and also spent a winter in

Egypt. After leaving collego Miss Boys-

Smith spent a year at Cambridge working at scientific drawing, fbr which she has decided talent, and in -(giving science classes at tho Perse High School for Girls, whore she introduced the . teaching of chemistry and fitted up and -equipped a small chemical laboratory. After leaving Cambridge sho taught Ghemisbry, Botany, Physiology, and Hygiene at -a girls' school at Weymouth, and prepnred tho whole school for the Royal Dray ring Society's examination, with marked success. In September, 1896. Miss Boys-Smith was appointed to the Cheltenham. Ladies' College, as Assistant Science Lecturer by Miss Dorothea Bealo, LL.D., whoso name is known all over tho world, as hen girls have gone into every country irr tVie Empire. This appointment was held by Miss Boys-Smith until she accepted th<e present engagement with the Otago University. Speakin.f of tho work performed by her for 144 years at the Cheltenham Ladies' CoMege, Miss Boys-Smith s'. that she had continuously lectured and demonstrated on various branches of scionco, including Chemistry, Physiology, Hygicno, Botany, Zoology, and Physiography, to students of 19 years and upwanns, preparing them for a variety of examinations and tho different kinds of work whero science was part of the necessary training. In this capacity she lectured to tiro students of the Training Department, including women training for teaching in kindergartens, and in secondary and primary schools. In all of these branches there aro Training Departments at the Cheltenham | Ladies' College. Miss Boys-Smith also prepared girls for the Cambridge Higher Local (Science Group) and tho South Kensington Examinations (both Advanced and Elementary). Practical work was compulsory in nearly all the above branches. When tho domestic science movement started at Cheltenham in 1905 Miss BoysSmith (at tho Principal's request) drafted flXttial courses m Physiology and Hygiene for tho Domestic Science Students, and (in conjunction with the Principal and other Science Teachers) assisted in planning tho Domestic Art and Science Courses best suited for the work at Cheltenham Lndies' College. Since 1901 Miss Boys-Smith has found time to illustrate four botany books, the issue of one of which has reached its twelfth thousand, and- is used in schools all over the world, while another, of an advanced charaoter, bids fair to prove a standard book on the subject. SCOPE OF WORK IX DUNEDIN.

In reply to a question as to what would bo the scope of hor work as Professor of Domestic Science at the Ofcago University, Miss Boys-Smith said tho Tlitco Years' Degree Course was to be fully up to the University standard, and a Two Years' Diploma Course, also a One Year's Course, would bo provided for those who did not want a training so extensive as that provided by the Dogroo Course, but needed teaching and enlightenment on tho scientific conduct of household affairs. The practical '.klc of the work would he very fully doetoped. There would b? practical work n connection with all the Science bourses at the University. Tho lomestic arts—namely, cooking, laundry-

work, and needlework—would he taughu very completely in conjunction with flic Technical Schools ami other institutions in DuriodLn, and training would be given in infant feeding and roaring at the Karitanc

Home. Tho physical development and health of tho students would be very carefully considered and provided for. Special precautions would be taken to prevent overstrain, either physically or mentally. Miss Boys-Smith has closely studied this subject in tho leading American schools and colleges, where they have introduced special regulations and precautions, which have greatly benefited tho physical and general health of the pirls and women students. Indeed, America to-day is justly proud of the excellent health and physique of her women and girls. Tho courses will be laid down on somewhat similar lines to those which we.rc

opened at King's College for Women, University of London, in October, 1908, in Home Science and Household Economics. They were organised with a view to providing education in science and economics of a university standard, and applying tho principles thus taught to the management of the. home and young children, the hygiene and bus'iness-liko conduct of institutions and houses, the laws and economic conditions airccting tho wages and employment of women in factories and workshops, etc. Tho lectures will be adapted tf tho needs of women wishing to prepare themselves for the efficient management of their homos, to take up positions as Inspectors, Lecturers in Economics and Domestic Science, Heads of Institutions, or Onga.nise.rs of domestic arrangements on a large scale, or to enter upon Social work, such as the many branches of work covered by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Tho promoters of the movement hope (.hat the work wild Ixv recognised as a development of tho existing system for the University Education of Women, as part of the natural and inevitable extension of scientific method, and a reaffirmation of the importance to the nation of the principles affecting homo life. "By development of _ tho oxisting system for the university education of women I mean," said Hiss BoysSmith, "that tho usual work done by womon at the universities will be replaced

bv work of a similar character, but more

congenial lo women and more suitable for

tho'part they have to play in life." The ignorance of all matters affecting house-

hold management, hygiene, sanitation, and child rearing that prevails under tihe present system of women's education can only D 3 met by tho introduction of this teaching into our educational institutions. Tho aim is to treat all subjects connected with tho household both scientifically and practically, and to ensure tha,t the training given is thorough on both sides.

" It is impossible," continual Miss BoysSmith, "to carry out this work and to keep tho standard of teaching up to the very best unless an adequate, sum of money is obtained. Science is being advanced all over tho world by largo private and public endowments, and this branch of applied soience, which affects the domestic life of tho country should appeal with peculiar forco to all those who realise how much tho welfare of tho nation is dopendont on that life, and what far-reaching results a .greater knowledge of the principles which imderlio domestic and civio affairs may have for this country and tho Empire. To quote from ono of your own papers. "The lives and health of the women and infants are one of tho valuable assets of a nation."

Provided that sufficient accommodation is available, it will be possible to take single courses of lectures in certain subjects, and women who desire information on dietetics, institutional dietaries, laundry-work, economics, etc., may apply at oneo to Miss Boys-Smith for permission to join such classes.

IMPRESSIONS OF DUNEDIN.

"I am very favourably impressed with Dunedin," said Misa Boys-Smith, in conclusion. "The place is certainly beautiful, and tho surrounding country will, I am sure, prove to bo still more beautiful when I have had an opportunity of seeing it more thoroughly. I have already learned to like the people. They have given mo a very warm welcome, and offered mo tho kindest and most courteous hospitality. Duncdin is certainly alive to the value of education. Everyone displays great interest in the work, and it appears to mo that thoy aTO prepared to give this now educational scheme a fair chaneo jnd take up the jeet thoroughly. I can ask for no better start in my work."