GIRLS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 59, 16 April 1914, Page 5

GIRLS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

WHAT THEY BECOME AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL. A return was prepared quite recently by the New South Wales Education Department showing the avocations which the lads who leave our primary schools propose to follow in order to earn a livelihood. The Minister for Education (Mr Carmichael) has had a further return prepared, which gives similar information concerning the girls of the State. Out of the 6144 girls who left the primary schools last year, 4836 intend to occupy their time, at least for the present, with home duties, which, after all, is considered by many people to be the true sphere of a woman's activities. It is an arresting fact that a very much larger percentage of girls go into the home after leaving school in the country districts than in town, the figures showing that while 67 out of every 100 girls in the metropolitan district on leaving school will thus occupy themselves, in the country the figures are much higher, being 85 out of 100. In other words, 33 girls out of every 100 come into industrial competition in the city, while only 15 out of every 100 come into such competition in the country, says the "Telegraph." Mr Carmichael- referred to the greatly increased efficiency of the modern girl in the domestic arts since the new system of domestic training has been intro : duced into our schools.

The Minister mentioned that although opportunity was afforded to all boys and girls to enter the university, only a small percentage would actually take advantage of this privilege. Many brilliant girls wisely decide to enter other avenues of employment equally useful and honourable, but which do not entail the strenuous academic training necessary for entrance to a profession. Three hundred and sixty-nine girls left school to enter into the commercial world as clerks, typists, and saleswomen; 205 girls became dressmakers, 119 coming from the city; 83 girls entered the millinery, and 101 the tailoring trade, while 127 girls left school for the purpose of becoming factory hands, the majority naturally coming from the metropolitan schools. Seventy-nine girls left school to become teachers in public schools, nine to become teachers of private schools, 16 to become governesses, and four to become music teachers. One fact shown in the return will appeal to the Millions Club and other bodies interested in importing domestic servants. Out of 6144 girls who left school during 1913, only 242—less than 4 per cent.—entered immediately into domestic service. The comprehensive nature of the return, and the care shown in collecting the information, is shown by the fact that specific information in connection with the occupation of girls was furnished in all except 18 cases out of a total of over 6000.