HOME SCIENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19205, 23 June 1924, Page 3

HOME SCIENCE.

MAGISTRATE PROPOSES COMPULSORY TRAINING.

SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS.

The problem of how to get' a sufficient number of girls adequately trained and in,A ructed for the duties of home-making and the care of children is one that exercises the minds of a number of persons. The increasing part taken by girls in industry and commerce and the gradual decline *of the home generally have of recent years lent a now intensity to the problem. Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., of Auckland, is one who has evidently felt the urgency of the matter, and in giving evidence recently before a Committee of Inquiry into social problems bo offered tile somewhat sanstic solution of “conscription for girls ” By this he meant that between the ages of 14 and 20 every girl should from time to time receive compulsory training in household -duties and the care of children. The suggestion has been attracting con sidorable attention, and it was submitted for comment to several local ladies who have special knowledge of girls and their training. Some preferred not to express an opinion, Hut others readily found something to be said in favour of Mr Boynton’s scheme.

Miss Jean Begg, who has made a special study lor years abroad of the caro and development of girlhood, expressed herself as quite in favour of some method of making training in rnothercraft universal. It should bo a regular part of our educational system. The ago at which this instruction would require to bo given would lie between 14 and 18. The teaching of cooking and sewing and so forth in the primary schools was quite a good thing, but something more than was needed. In the United States “Little Mothers’ Leagues” for girls over 12 had been - formed with much success. Their chief object has been the training of young girls in home-making and the care of children. One thing much needed. Miss Begg feels, is a course of training in citizenship so that girls may acquire that esprit do corps that binds the community together and makes them really valuable members of it. Mrs G. M. Baker, who has taken a prominent part in various activities for the welfare of girls, said she certainly agreed with Mr Poynton in his main contenton. “Whatever views wo may hold,” she said, “about the bachelor girl spirit, which seems eo attractive in theory, the fact is that the immense majority of girls in this dominion marry, and anything which tends to fit them for married life is clesirab’o. 'the early days of a young married couple are generally difficult ones in any case, and the ability to manage a house properly and econmically is no small advantage in smoothing the road. Someone gave an excellent receipt for keeping men in good humour: “Feed the brutes.” Ther are worse Methods, One deplores the language, but the sentiment is sound. Some time ago the- St. John Ambulance Associition had under consideration a scheme for training girls for housework which seemed to mo to have many good points. The idea was to eventually provide a body of skilled young women who would visit the houses of those in need of their services, much in the same way as the district nurses now do, giving help and advice where needed. It is well known that the families of the poorer classes pay more, relatively speaking, for their food, clothing, etc., than thosie better circumstanced. This is largely due ,to ignorance of domestic economy. The homo science movement i» an admirable one, but does not touch the classes we are out to help.” A womam of considerable experience in Y.W.O.A. work pointed out in the first place that Dunedin is exceptionally well provided for in the matter of appropriate training for girls. She considers that Dunedin girls take much more interest in domestic training than do the girls of most other towns. The School of Home Science, of course, serves to give these matters prominence. It puts home-making on a professional footing, and gave it a dignity in the eyes of girls who might otherwise have been inclined to despite domestic duties. The girls of Dunedin as a wnolo are very keen on these matters, and orton as soon as they leave school attend lectures given by the Home Science School. Lectures of similar character at the Y.W.C.A. have attracted much interest, and the Technical School provided a good course in domestic science. It has been surprising the number of girls who seek after useful practical information of this kind. Tile home science lectures, of course, reach mainly those tvo call of the “middle” class, and do not touch those girls who at an early age have to take up work in factories. It vrai clear that all classes of the community would have to he placed on the same footing in the matter of this training, and yet the making of it compulsory would certainly take away a great part of its attraction. The speaker was of opinion that whatever the need of girls here was for instruction in domestic science their need was less than of girls in most other towns.