EDUCATION WEEK

Southland Times, Issue 25311, 14 June 1935, Page 8

EDUCATION WEEK

INSPIRING ADDRESS TALK ON CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENT EFFECT OF EDUCATION The moulding of character through a broadening of the mental outlook and the ama&jing of knowledge was dealt with by Miss A. Eastwood, principal of the Southland Girls’ High School, in an address to the girls attending the Educational Week arranged by the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union yesterday morning. “Character is determined by heredity and modified by education,” said Miss Eastwood. “By that I do not mean simply school education, but education in its widest sense. What do we mean by environment? We use the word to indicate our surroundings, not only in a physical sense but also mental and moral conditions. Obviously character and environment are very closely connected. We can dismiss the idea of physical environment because we are all quite conscious of that. Our place of residence, whether it is in town or country, is limited 'largely by our economic position. “Mental and moral environment, however, we can change, and by changing it we change our character. The mental development of environment, and henceforth of character, comes from education. The very fact that you have come to Invercargill this week indicates that you have a regard for that adult education I have mentioned. Basis of Education. “The basis of all education is curiosity and observation. If you are curious about a thing you set to work to find out about it, and in that way you extend your education. The logical result is that you see things as they really are. It will enable you to form good judgments and, properly developed, it will impel you to do your best, to make the best of your opportunities.” Miss Eastwood gave instances of great men of the past who rose above a poor physical environment by using their powers of curiosity and observation, by developing their mental environment. “When I speak of moral environment, I want you all to remember that you are members of a society, and in the Empire members of a democratic society,” said Miss Eastwood. “We rule ourselves, and therefore each one of us carries a very large responsibility. In your own home circles you have only a limited amount of time to widen your outlook, but I want you to find time to take an interest in outside affairs, which is not only immensely interesting, but also a duty under a democratic society. When we come to questions of moral character-questions upon which women have to make a decision because of their increasing part in a country’s affairs—l simply want to repeat your president’s advice: keep your standard high. “We in New Zealand labour under a disadvantage in the sense that we are inclined to rather an isolated outlook. It. is necessary to widen our outlook by taking a greater interest in world and national affairs. We have a Press in New Zealand of which we may justly be proud, and systematic reading of the papers must prove advantageous. I suggest that in your own organization you inaugurate a system whereby you exchange viewpoints gleaned from the paper. You will thus learn something of the inter-dependence of the countries of the world. International Affairs.

“The League of Nations is a great organization endeavouring to right moral and international wrongs. You must remember, however, that the League of Nations can do no more than is the will of the governments represented on it. A study of the League of Nations will be of value to you. No one can fail to be struck by the amazing development of science to-day. Experiments are being carried out in efforts to raise the standard of living and to combat disease. You should make yourselves acquainted with progress in this direction.

“In conclusion I just have to point out the reason for your developing your mental outlook if you can. Our duty is undoubtedly to make conditions better for those who come after us. Each of us must use her gifts and opportunities for those who come after us, and see that they are better equipped for life than we are.”

In proposing a vote of thanks to the speaker Mrs W. H. Ward, Dominion president, said that many were inclined to think only of the physical environment, but Miss Eastwood had in an inspiring way shown the need for broadening the mental outlook and for thinking of things worth while. MUSEUM VISITED INTERESTING RELICS. The girls were taken on a tour of inspection of the Southland Museum yesterday afternoon by the curator, Mr G. Jaquiery, who explained in interesting fashion the varied exhibits. In a brief preliminary talk Mr Jaquiery mentioned that housed in the museum was an old spinning wheel brought out. to New Zealand from Scotland in the early days, while on their visit of inspection they would also see shoes, slippers and footwear of all nations. They would also be interested in the work of the Maori, who in his own way was quite as civilized as they were to-day. Their carving was done 'with stone tools, which were quite a different thing from the tools used by the artisan. The Maoris had, 400 years ago, certain conventionalized forms of art. In the museum was the best collection of insects in New Zealand. Mr Jaquiery was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation. ■ ART IN THE HOME HAND-MADE FURNISHINGS. MR T. H. JENKIN’S LECTURE. One of the most interesting of the lectures given to the girls attending the Educational Week was that on “Art in the Home” delivered by Mr T. H. Jenkin, art master at the Southland Technical College, yesterday afternoon. He spoke not only of the early efforts at home furnishing, but also of the revival in hand-made furnishings in evidence to-day. He illustrated his remarks in appropriate maimer with a number of scenes thrown on the screen by a lantern and by giving examples of notable effects in interior design. “There is a great deal of difference in the meaning of art to different people,” said Mr Jenkin, “but I think that art can be applied to everything we do. Even cooking is an art. Sir William Orpen had once painted a portrait of a chef and called it ‘A tribute to a great artist’.” Speaking of art in the home, . Mr Jenkin said that three centuries ago people did not own homes as they were known to-day. They lived in sort of hovels—there was no furniture, no decoration, no comforts as they were known to-day. It was in the ’Elizabethan era that the people began to wake up to the fact that they were not getting all that they were entitled to. They did not have the pleasing furnishings of the rich people of the time. As they could not go into a shop and buy them, they set to and made them for themselves. The beginnings of furnished homes

came in the Jacobean period, about 1600, but it was a century later, in the age of Queen Anne, that there came the beginning of the drawing-room. This room was a sort of show room where all the art treasures, made by hand and passed on from generation to generation, were kept. About 1750 there, came about the establishment of homes for the people, Chippendale was the first cabinet-maker mentioned in history who established a type of furnishing for the ordinary home. Then came the mechanical age from 1800 to 1910, and during this period there was a slump in hand-made furnishings. A revival came in 1910, and there was now evident a desire among people to make artistic things for themselves. Mr Jenkin mentioned a number of crafts which enabled ordinary persons, whether art students or not, to make things for themselves in their own homes. He dealt fully with weaving (one of the oldest arts in the world), pottery (which plenty of people could do and which was put to good use in Dunedin), printing with linoleum, metal-work, painting decorations on the walls, wood carving, modelling, making crockery and lettering. The lantern - scenes showed representative selections of furniture and furnishings back to the Tudor days, while pleasing modern effects were also shown. Mr Jenkin was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation on the motion of Mrs W. H. Ward. FLORAL DECORATIONS ART OF ARRANGING FLOWERS. Floral decorations or the art of arranging flowers and foliage to the bast advantage was fully explained and demonstrated by Mrs P. A. Thomson last evening. Dealing with harmonizing colours and uniformity of balance, she showed how vases and bowls for home decorations or show purposes could be enhanced. She stated that there was a wide scope for the girls of to-day to develop their artistic ability. They had an abundance of good material to work on in the variety and colour of flowers. To have flowers for decorative work at their best, they should be picked the day before required. Crooked or bent stems were an asset. A more graceful effect could be attained if a few of these were used round the base of the bowl or vase. Patience, perseverance and practice were the essential virtues towards success in decorative work. GIRLS’ DEBATE TOWN AND COUNTRY LIFE. WIN FOR AFFIRMATIVE. No more appropriate topic for a debate than the contention “That country life is preferable to Town Life” could have been chosen for the girls attending the Educational Week conducted by the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. The debate was conducted in Smith’s Hall last evening and though the speakers were new to their task they entered it with zest and acquitted themselves so creditably that they drew praise from the judge (Miss C. McLeod). The decision was in favour of the affirmative side by a narrow margin. For the affirmative, Miss Margaret Robbie, of Woodlands, said she was a country girl herself, but she had lived seven years in town. In town it was a case of getting up at the last minute, looking out the window at a fence and then spending the day till dusk in an office. In the country, on the other hand, girls rose early and lived close to nature. Girls in offices had pale cheeks and suffered from chilblains. Country girls had apple cheeks and no chilblains. (Laughter.) Girls in the country had much to appreciate and had much food for thought. They saw God expressed in nature. It was not right to say that town people did not see it, but the rush of life prevented them from seeing it properly. Love of animals was a strong draw in the country. People after a holiday dreaded going back to a town, but that was never true of the country. Country girls had a variety of duties, unlike girls working in town in shops. They worked for work’s sake and they had contented minds. If town and country people were asked if they were getting the most out of life, she thought more favourable replies would come from the latter. Townspeople did not have the time to appreciate these things. A farmer could talk with his wife over the business of the farm, but in very few occupations could this be so. The Other Side. Miss Mcßae, of Benmore, for the negative, said the last minute rush was the fault of the person concerned and she had seen children in the country so badly affected with chilblains that they could not go to. school. She had heard girls complaining about the cows (laughter) and about the winter. Town girls felt lonely in the country and country children experienced difficulties in going to school. That was one direction in which town girls had the advantage. Better shopping facilities were available in town, where the girls had other opportunities for cultural improvement and for indulging in sporting pursuits. The town provided a greater variety of food. They had inspected the Times Office and that reminded them that people in town received their newspapers early before they left for work. Country people often got theirs three days old. (Laughter.) Of course that was not true of all the country, but there were remote districts. If counti-y people got tired of their minister at church they thought of stopping their attendance. In town there were other churches.

Miss Evans, of Hedgehope, said there were better shooting facilities in the country. To enrich his table a city man had to take a day off, but the farmer only had to spend an hour. Conditions in the country had altered. They received their copy of the Southland Times and their mail at 8 a.m., earlier than some townspeople, and there was the telephone, the radio and motor cars and good roads. Miss Marion Robertson, of Waikiwi, said the cost of living in town was much cheaper. To get a little meat for dinner the farmer had to catch a sheep, kill it, skin it and carve it. A town resident just went to a butcher’s shop and procured a little parcel. Gas was available for cooking in the towns; it was a little dirtier, but it was cheaper. A business girl in town received her pay once a week, but the milk cheque only came in once a month and the sheep cheque less often than that. The result was that the town girl had money in her pocket, but the country girl had to wait. Traffic Dangers. Miss Muriel Gray, of Dipton, said that Invercargill was the slowest moving town in New Zealand as far as traffic was concerned. Dunedin was faster and Christchurch was still faster, but there was not the danger in the country from traffic. People in towns were so close to the doctor that it became expensive, for they were always running to him. The ‘senior inspector of schools had said it was yet to be proved that children in small schools received a worse training than children in the larger schools. The country had produced many prominent men. Miss Smith, of Wyndham, said that the great men mentioned by previous speakers had had their training in the town. If the traffic directions laid down were followed there would be few accidents. There were more openings for work at larger salaries in the town, where a person’s education could be continued. In the towns there was a superior sanitary system. 'Replying, Miss Robbie said she ob-

jected to the restlessness attached, to town life, the desire to be “going somewhere.” There were no shops in the country to tempt people to spend their money and country people appreciated entertainments all the more by reason of their comparative rarity. Miss Mcßae said that Invercargill had no congested areas. Country people visiting town often spent their money foolishly. She quoted a day in the life of a town girl, reciting its advantages. Miss McLeod congratulated the speakers and said that for people who had never debated before they had done very well. She then announced that she*had allotted 81 points to the affirmative and 78 points to the negative. Miss McLeod also gave much useful advice, for which she was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.