TECHNICAL EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2835, 29 June 1895, Page 4

TECHNICAL EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

School of technical instruction for girls are fast becoming a feature of colonial towns, and though somo may think their establishment savoru of innovation, the contrary is really the case. We are only following the example sot us by the Ulo World—a long way oil'. Ju Germany and Belgium great facilities are placed iu the way of girls who wish to acquire a comineniiaj j«,nd industrial education, in addition to the uki;q.l knowledge of dressmaking and fancy work By this meaus girls are enabkdto till situations jn oflices and counting house;', as well art to execute designs in textile and porcelain maim factoring. !:i Brussels the professional school for girls is an example of what can be done by a few pnlilic spirited persons. The. idea wan taken up by (wo or three citizens who appealed to ihe public for ludp. The remit was that a hrgo numbe: ■,'f subscriber.* soon cone forward pronns ie ,' subscriptions of at lea.-.t 'M francs a | year, that sun, being fixed at first as the school fee. Tho municipal council promised an annual subscription of at least obOO francs, and with this income | tho school was < pened. Tho school has j iir>t with great success, and Iris now an annual attendance of several hundred girls. Among the subjects taught ate book-keeping, iudu-' rial designing (chiefly .-•iicli as is applicable t" dressmaking and millinery), and ihe manufacture of porcelain. Besides these the studouts are

instructed in paiutiug on porcelain, dressmaking, and cutting out and getting up of liuen, and- the manufacture of artificial flowers. As au example of the thoroughly practical nature of the instruction imparted, the method of examination in dressmaking may be cited. A certain amount of material is given to a girl, which she is required to make into a dress, fitting a lay figure. In judging her work, the taste displayed and the exacfcuess of her fit are taken into account. As might be expected, the girls and young women on leaving the school find little difficulty in obtaining employment in the business for which they have received their training.