HOME SCIENCE FACULTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20281, 14 December 1927, Page 4

HOME SCIENCE FACULTY.

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Home Science Department of the Otago University was laid before the meeting of the University Council yesterday by Dr Strong, dean of the home science faculty. The report contained the following clauses, amongst others:— As reported last year, Dr Gloy and Miss Cauty have returned to the department after studying abroad, taking up more independent positions on the staff. Dr Gloy is the first home science student in New' Zealand to secure a Ph. D. degree, and she has made a reputation for high scholarship in her scientific studies, and was appointed to the lectureship in applied chemistry upon her return. Miss Cauty secured her Master of Science degree also at Columbia, specialis. ing in food economics. She has been appointed lecturer in charge of the foods and cookery department upon her return, bringing new inspiration and high standards to the work. Miss Agnes Rawson, a graduate of the Battersea Polytechnic Institute, of London, and for fiv e years head of one of the houses of Roedean School, England, assumed the position of sub-warden of Studholme House, left vacant by the resignation of Miss Brown, and Miss Jean Irvine was appointed as her assistant in the place formerly held by Miss Pithie. During the year, the Education Department expressed its unwillingness to pay fees for courses in physical education and voice production. The council has kindly met the deficiency in order that the course might be continued as begun, but new arrangements will have to be made for next year. It would seem that in a home science course of study which deals so definitely with health, it would be obviously necessary to conserve the health of the home science students themselves, and fit them for directing the children in their charge Since the proper use of the voice is most important for teaching, it is difficult to understand whv this work is not recognised by the department. It is hoped that in th e future, adequate facilities for physical education and voice production may be provided for all students of the department. This year we have had two students pursuing post-graduate work in the department of chemistry, and a third student has made application to work nex„ year for her master’s degree in economics and social science. It is very gratifying that each year since its inception students have entered upon advanced study for the master’s degree in home science. # Miss Helen Thomson, who has enjoyed the Sir John Roberts fund for medical research, and has been assisting Dr Hercus in goitre research, has completed her work for the Bachelor of Home Science degree, and taken up the position of temporary teacher in Christchurch, but expects to return the year after to complete her research and work for the master’s degree. This year we have received applications for home science graduates to do work along several new lines. Inquiries have come to us from several hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, looking for dietitians. On e is doing excellent work in the Christchurch Hospital, and another has recently been appointed food supervisor for mental homes, under the director of health. Other appointments are imminent. Tasmania has made application to us for an extension expert to organise home economics instruction for rural homes. One of our graduates has recently been appointed food expert in the Washington Agricultural College, PuUiam Washington. Three branches of the women’s division of the Farmers Union have been formed during the winter in Otago with our help, and an extension worker is very much needed for the province. Several graduates have gone abroad for further experience dietetics in Scotland, Canada, and the United States, preparing themselves to reti and take up responsible work in iNew Zo The n i d e were 117 students on the roll oi 'the Home Science Department for ItMC the largest enrolment since its beginningOf this number two students were workinfor the Master of Home Science degree 52 attended the course leading to the Bachelor of Home Science degree 60 were studying for the diploma of Associate of Otago University in Homo Science, and three attended special group courses in home making. „ The applications for entrance to the Home Science Department this year far exceeded those in previous years, and among them were 40 who were also applicants for the Government Bursary. The custom which has up to the present prevailed with reference to such applications has been for the dean to scrutinise the applications, papers and testimonials to see that they fulfilled the requirements for the Home Science Bursary, as laid down by the Education Department. As the complaint has always been that there were nsufficient teachers to meet the requirements of the manual training centres. hi"h schools, and girls’ colleges, our purpose has been to encourage as many girls as possible to enter the course. No limi rations ever having been set up, and no intimation having been received to the contrary, all applicants who fulfilled .he conditions were encouraged to believe that they would bo successful in securing bursary. Four days I fore the University classes commenced, we were advised by the Education Department that on!} 10 bursaries would be granted this vear Our protests resulted in the reversal of this decision and the department awarded the full number on the understanding that onlv such students as made a successfu showing of the year’s work, would have their bursary renewed, and, further, that the Government could not guarantee posi tions to all who completed the course These conditions were accepted by the students and council, they being m full accord with the principles enunciated This arrangement is very acceptable rs t will favour the improvement of the quality of students and make it possible to drop poorer qualified students without penalising them so severely as in the pastNew conditions for the granting and 'olding of bursaries have been proposed, but no final ruling irmn the subject has been received from Wellington. We look forward hopefully to the time when the small practice house will be available for housekeeping experience, leaving the management of the hostel o such students as are interested in institu tional management and dietitics. To this end our staff, graduates, and students, again gave voluntary help in running the hostel as a hotel during the 11 days’ scs sion of the Medicai Congress held in Dun edin last autumn. As a result of theii labour they netted the sum of £l5B, which has been donated to the University Council to be added to the fund previously given by Alumnae Association for increasing hostel accommodation. ’ As the number of outside groups of students and students living at home has in creased, the resnonsibilities of the can ar e extended more and more outside e hostel in supervising all resident students The administration work of the department is increasingly heavy, and her time is fully occupied over and above ner teaching. It is therefore believed that the time has come when the dual responsibility of dean and warden should be separated, and that it is wise to olace Studholme House in charge of the present sub-warden, Miss Rawson. Phe should be able to take full responsibility of ‘ho hostel next vear.