THE CHAIR OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 2970, 15 February 1911, Page 34

THE CHAIR OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE

I-RACTICAL VALUE AND SCOPE OF J THE WORK. IMPORTANCE TO THE NATION. SOMETHING ABOUT MISS BOYSSMITH. The high importance attached to the •establishment of a Chair of Home Science and Economics at the Otago University is no doubt fully realised by the community. Domestic science is a branch of learning which yet needs some introduction to this oountry, and for that and other reasons an interview on the subject of Domestic Science which an Otago Witness reporter had with Miss Boys-Smith, who has just arrived in Dunedin from England to fill the chair at the Otago University, and something about the personal history and career of that lady will be read with interest. PERSONAL HISTORY. I

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 the British Consulate at Warsaw in 1856-61 (during his tenure of which the disastrous Polish Insurrection occurred), he was, appointed "Special Correspondent" to The Times, and wrote a aeries of articles on the Poles and Poland whliCh proved a considerable factor in influencing public opinion in Britain at that date. His father, the Rector of Gumfrestori, was well known as a geologist at a time when geology was yet in its infancy; and (to go farther back still) it is to the Boys family of Layer Marney that Miss BoysSmith owes much of the educational, scientific, and literary bent which is one of her asset® to-day. Her mother was a daughter of S. F. Cox, captain of the First Life Guards, of Sandford Park, Oxon, and Emily Sheffield, daughter of Sir Robert and Lady Sheffield, of Norman by. The Cox family have, for 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 been ordered to the front by the King to meet Napoleon's famous Guards. CAREER. Miss Boys-Smith was educated at Tunbridge Wells High School, where she very ehortly gained a mathematical scholarship for Girtori College, Cambridge, taking First Classes in each section of the subject, with " Distinction" in the higher branches of mathematics —i.e., in Analytical and Geometrical Conies, and in Differential and Integral Calculus. Once at Cambridge, however, her natural bant made her decide to read for the Natural Science Tripos, and she took the Full Honours Course from October, 1891, to June, 1894, attending the Uunivereity and Colle-g'o Lectures in Biolc.jy. Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Zoology, and Physiology, arid doing very complete practical work in the University and College laboratories, under Professors Fran': Dar-

win, Adam Sedgwick, Seward, Sir Michael Foster, Dr Shore, Mr Pattison Muir, Miss Freund, i.liss Marion Greenwood, Miss Saunders, and others. Before going to college she had spent two years yachting up the west coast of Scotland, to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, and then across to Norway. She thence travelled to Europe, dier 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 college Miss BoysSmith spent a year at Cambridge working at scientific drawing, for which she has decided talent, and in giving science classes at the Perse High School for Girls, where she introduoed the teaching of chemistry and fitted up and equipped a small chemical laboratory. After leaving Cambridge she taught Chemistry, Botany, Physiology, and Hygiene at a girls' school at Weymouth, and prepared the whole school for the Royal Drawing Society's examination, with marked success. In September, 1696, Miss Boys-Smith was appointed to the Cheltenham. Ladies' College as Assistant Science Lecturer by Miss Dorothea Beale, LL.D., Avhose name is known all over the world, as her girls have gone into every country in the Empire. This appointment was held by Miss Bo.ys-Smith until she accepted the present engagement with the Otago University. Speaking of the work performed by her for 14g years at the Cheltenham Ladies' College, Miss Boys-Smith stated that she had continuously lectured and demonstrated on various branches of science, including Chemistry, Physiology, Hygiene, Botany. Zoology, and Physiography,' to students of 19 years and upwards, preparing them for a variety of examinations and the different kinds of work where science was part of the necessary training. In this capacity she lectured to the students of the Training Department, including women training ■ for teaching in Kindergartens, and in secondare ond primary schools. In all of these branches there are Training Departments at the Cheltenham Ladies' College. Miss Boys-Smith also prepared giris for the Cambridge Higher Local iScicnce Group) and the South Kensington Examinations (bath Advanced and Elementary). Practical work was compulsory in nearly all the above branches.

When the domestio science movement started at Cheltenham in 1905 Miss BoysSmith (at the Principal's request) dra.fted si>ccial courses in Physiology and Hygiene for the Domestic Science Students, and (in conjunction with the Principal and other Science Teachers) assisted in planning the Domestic Art and Science Courses best suited for the work at Cheltenham Ladies' College. Since 1901 Miss Boys-Smith has found time to illustrate fowr 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 character, bids fair to prove a standard book on the subject. SCOPE OF WORK IN DUNEDIN. In reply to a question as to what would be the scope of her work as Professor of Domestic Science at the Otago University, Miss Boys-Smith said the Three Years' Degree. Course was to be fully up to the University standard, and a Two Years' Diploma Course, also a One Year's Couree,

would bo provided for those who did not ■want a training so extensive as that provided by the Degree Course, but needed teaching and enlightenment on the scientmo conduct of household affaire. The practical eidc of the work would be very fully devedorsd. There would be practical work in connection with all the Science Courses at the University. The domestic arts—namely, cooking, laundrywork, and needlework —would be taught very completely in conjunction with the Technical Schools and other institutions in Duriedin, and training would be given in infant feeding and reading at the Kantane Home. The physical development and health of the students would be very carefully considered and provided fo.r. Special precautions would be taken to prevent overstraini, either physically or mentally. Miss Boys-Smith has closely studied this subject in the leading American schools and colleges, where they have introduced special regulations and precautions, which have greatly benefited the physical and general health of the girls 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 were I opened at King's College for Women, University of London, in October, 1903, 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 the principles thus i taught to the management of the ' home and young children, the hygiene and 1 business-like conduct of institutions and i houses, the laws and economic conditions 1 affecting the wages and employment of | women in factories and workshops, etc. The lectures will be adapted to the needs of women wishing to prepare themselves for tho efficient management of their homes, to take up positions as In- ! specters, Lecturers in Economics and j Domestic Science, Heads of Institutions, or Organisers of domestic arrangements on a large scale, or to enter upon, Social work, such as the ! many branches of work "covered by i the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The promoters of the movement hope that the work will be recognised as a development of the 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 home life. "By development of the existing system for the university education of women I mean," said Miss BoysSmith, "that the usual work done by women at tho universities will be replaced by work of a similar character, but ,more congenial to women and more suitable for the part they have to play in life." The ignorance of all matters affecting household management, hygiene, sanitation, and child rearing that prevails under ttie present system of women's education can only be met by the introduction of this teaching into our educational institutions. The aim is to treat all subjects connected with the household both scientifically and practically, and to ensure that tho training given is thorough on both sides. " It is impossible," continued Miss Boys--1 Smith, "to carry out this work and to keep the standard of teaching up to the very best unless an adequate sum of money is obtained. Science is being advanced all over the world by large private and public endowments, and this branch of applied science, which affects the domestic life of the country should appeal with peculiar force to all those who realise how much the welfare of the nation is dependent on that life, and what far-reaching results a greater knowledge of the principles which underlie domestic and civic affairs nuiy have for this country and the Empire. To quote from one of your own papers. " The lives and health of the women and infants are one of the valuable assets of a nation." I Provided that sufficient accommodation is 1 available, it will be possible to take single '■ courses of lectures in certain subjects, and i women who der.ire information on dietetics, I institutional dietaries, laundry-work, econoi mics, etc., may apply at once to Miss j Boys-Smith for permission to join such classes. IMPRESSIONS OF DUNEDIN. j " I am very favourably impressed with Dunedin," .said Miss Boys-Smith, in conclusion. "The place is certainly beautiful, and the surrounding country will, I am ! sure, prove to be 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 me a ! very warm welcome, and offered me the j kindest and most courteous hospitality. ! Dunedin is certainly alive to the value of education. Everyone displays great interest in the work, and it appears to me that they are prepared to give this new educational scheme a fair chance and take up the project thoroughly. I can ask for no better j start in my work."