TRAINING THE GIRL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 97, 30 May 1914, Page 7

TRAINING THE GIRL.

~■,,,.., , i . • ~" . ■" • Some interesting suggestions for dealing "with the-doniestie problem are put forward by Mr ; William A. M 'Keever in.hia book "Training the Girh/'-' which i^ 1 published by-Messrs Macmillan. Dolitestic -wOrkj he thinks, is "a dignified and praiseworthy vocation, especially for young wome^n.' ' The jreason why these same "young women" have not yet fully grasped the fact is due, it is

suggested, to three things. In .the-firefcVr place "there has been a tendency to*. ; wards a sentiment of vain superiority, ? and superciliousness on the part of the employer of the so-called servant." In i the second, training in domestic duties? : has been neglected. In the third, sucfeTl? terms as "servant" and "maid" have iff suggested the idea of inferiority, and \s the author suggests that ' 'household as-7*? sistant" would be a better term. His ideal for training is. that every k large city should have, a sphpol for"*;;* "household assistants," so. I;hat, women 44 working as domestics should-, have a-jig chance of availing themselves of the' 2f privileges of the school. '/She j work about half the time in .some good:' home, and consider this experience as her" laboratory practice. The other half J?~ of her time should be spent at the'in- H stitution, where the theory of her work „ would receive adequate discussion. The* £ details of the laboratory, practice would be gone over for correction and, an im- ~'M provement in the v method." "V"! Dish washing, scrubbing, house clean- -,."* ing, bed chamber work, cooking, table , service and plain sewing are mentioned "* as desirable subjects in which instruction should be given, and after a few months it is suggested that 'the-youngr - woman so trained would' fhrtT her vices in great demand. She. would, too, < '' acquire the thought .of rendering '. beautiful and efficient service in return. * for her wages, and would thereby be_ enabled to command a higher and better ; position. Along with her training and ; domestic work this teachable young' '„> woman could, and should, receive in- ': struction in such forms of courtesy and < good manners as would commend her f to the favourable thought and sympathy - of the best families with whom she liv- h ed. Thus she would be met on terms ;'. of closer acquaintance and good will, \ 'and would be treated more nearly a# 1 a friend _and associate of her employer." *•§