EDUCATIONAL WEEK

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1935, Page 6

EDUCATIONAL WEEK

SCHEME FOR COUNTRY GIRLS. EXPLANATION OF THE SCHEME. The intention of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union in North, South and Central Taranaki to entertain junior members and daughters of senior members at a series of educational and cultural lectures and demonstrations at New Plymouth during one week in June was explained to a reporter at Stratford by Mrs. H. A. Hunt, Stratford. The plan originated at a recent meeting of the Taranaki. Women’s Division at Stratford, Mrs. Hunt being appointed secretary of a committee then set up to put the proposals into effect. “It is recognised that the girls in our more remote districts do not in many cases enjoy the privileges of secondary education, and are deprived of happy association with other girls of their own age,” Mrs. Hunt said. “It is therefore felt that an opportunity of bringing town and country girls together with a common interest and in some measure recompensing those who have missed some of those advantages that are the heritage of the girls of to-day, will be eagerly taken advantage of by all who have arrived at an age to appreciate the promise of happy relationship between town and country.” A well attended preliminary meeting, representative of all Taranaki, was held at Stratford on April 6, when it was decided that the girls chosen should be between the ages of 18 and 25 and that each branch should send one girl for every 25 members. There was a suggestion before branches that where no girl of the ages stated was available a married woman might be given an opportunity to attend. So keen was the interest in the venture that a request was made to allow all members to attend the lectures upon paying a small admission fee. A levy of 5s would be made upon each branch to meet the expenses of the educational week, said Mrs. Hunt, and the girls would be billeted as far as possible. A tentative programme has been drawn up for submission to the central committee and further suggestions are invited. The present programme includes lectures upon and, where possible, demonstrations on arboriculture, Maori lore, domestic science, public speaking, first-aid and other medical subjects, floral and decorative work, and gardening, music, dressmaking and handcrafts. Visits to the public hospital, places of historic interest, oil bores, freezing works, etc., have been also proposed. The social and educational value of the “girls’ educational week” could not be over-estimated, said Mrs. Hunt, and it was hoped that all members would rally to the support of the promoters. ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS. Particulars are advertised of the Farmers’ Union meeting to be held in the Cardiff hall to-night. Mr. H. E. Blyde will be present.