CAREER FOR GIRLS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 9

CAREER FOR GIRLS.

ADDEESS BY MISS J. It. BARR, “The Career for Girls” was the subject chosen by Miss It. Barr, Principal of the Timaru Girls’ High School, who addressed a large attendance of women , under the auspices of the Timaru Women Citizens’ Association, at the W-E-A. rooms last evening. The president (Airs D. £h K trashed) briefly introduced the speaker, and said they were honoured to have the Principal of such a fine school to addi •css them (Applause.) Miss Barr said that different professions were suitable to girls of different temperament. One of the principal careers was teaching. Before a girl could venture out on this sphere she must possess good health, sympathy, and understanding, intellectual quality, and. a good personality. Surgical, maternity and Karitane nursing were also professions considered especially adaptable, the latter being very much so, to girls of about 18 years who had just loft school. Any mother who wanted a girl to take up this work, however, would have to make application immediately, as there would be no vacancies iu the Karitane Homes throughout New Zealand till 1930. Speaking with regard to dental clinic work, Aliss Barr said that the director of the dental clinic at Wellington (Mr Saunders) had recently told her that girls were specially suited for dental work, but as only about thirty students were turned cut yearly, this did not play a very prominent part in providing situations for girls. Chemistry and medicine could also be considered, but in view of the great deal of enthusiasm required to face the preparation and study for the latter, it was appropriate only for a few. Speaking with regard to domestic work. Miss Barr said that girls who bad an artistic temperament found dressmaking, millinery, arts and crafts, and other hand work to be a great joy. If a girl bad an artistic temperament, the School of Art at Christchurch was an invaluable institution for the correct instruction. Photography and piano tuning had also been mentioned as possible careers for girls. Aliss Barr said she was not very satisfied with the present commercial status. She had made up her mind to interview several prominent commercial men. and try and ascertain where the weakness really was. Very few girls could express themselves properly in a business letter, while others could not even competently address an envelope. Something quite different would have to be done to improve the commercial status, and this had also been suggested to her by a gentleman high up in educational circles, who was of the same opinion. The first question to be considered by girls and their parents was whai position they wanted to take rip, and how . to carry it out. At some schools the masters and mistresses .were inclined to idealise tho world. Miss Barr was of opinion that thore was too much theory and not enough practical advico given. Referring to education. Miss Barr said this was essential to ensure a girl’s career. Competition for posts was very keen, and there was no doubt that a girl with an educational background was going to bo a great deal more sought after for certain positions. J-lioi'c were girls avlio, uftor leaving school, were content to live an aimless life, and it was snob girls that gave teachers and parents a great deal of thought for their futures. Recently, tho speaker stated, she had been roadseveral helpful articles in' an English paper on the aimless life of some women, who had never done a day’s housework in their lives, but usually led the fashion. Mothers had to guard against this sort of life, which had a tendency to lower tho mornW utlook. The girl who had an aim in life to bettor herself and the commonD' justified her existence. As she had. mentioned before, the additional competition for posts caused by the entry into the field of girls from sections of the community who had not previously taken up paid posts, make it imperative for the girl who of necessity must earn her living, to see to it that she acquired the education necessary / to fit her to do successfully what she had chosen to do. With education came confidence and that sense of equality which was 30 important an element in success.' True education could be acquired for the most part, by contact with cultured minds, the contact being either personal or through t.he agency of hooks. Most parents acted on the principle that it was wise for a girl to take such a course at school as would fit her to earn her living should necessity arise. The idea of taking up a career took root in the girl’s mind to such an extent that it was not surprising that she definitely, in many cases, wished to follow that career—whether it was necessary or not from a financial point of view that she should do so. Headmistresses of girls’ schools had been blamed by those who regretted the disinclination on the part of girls towards domestic work', for urging them to take up careers, but parents —especially mothers—'were just as anxious that their girls should be prepared to earn their living, because mothers know better than, anyone else how, when deciding what a girl was to do, two things at least must be borne in mind. First, the girl must wish to follow the occupation chosen; secondly, she must have the qualities necessary to make her a success in that occupation. It is. no use deciding that a girl is going to be a teacher, a domestic worker,

a doctor or a dressmaker, regardless of whether she had the natural qualifications. Then the question of supply and demaud should he considered also, and here Miss Barr said she would like to refer to the position that had arisen in regard to the unemployment of teachers. Although the position was hard for those out of employment, it would certainly have a beneficial effect in the long run. Those girls who in the face of this discouragement persevere with their intention of becoming teachers would give proof of their zeal and of their conviction that they had chosen what they really wished to do. Personally Miss Barr said she had great faith in the principle that those who v r ere enthusiastic, ambitious, and at the same time not afraid of hard work, must eventually succeed. A warning, however, should be given to make sure that a girl had the natural qualifications for teaching. The different avenues open to girls were necoming so crowded mat something would have to be done to make the domestic career attractive to the increasing number of girls who would find themselves compelled to follow it. She called it a career, because, unless .domestic work could be made as much a career as office work, teaching, or nursing, tho educated girl was not going to find it attractive. Girls did not like housework just because they were girls. In the meantime, it was considered that anyone could do housework, and that was not much incentive to a girl to take it up as a career. The more intelligently housework was organised, the more

easny and successfully ic was done. The muscular effort necessary to keep the house swept and polished, and the monotonous routine of cooking meals and washing dishes, was not sufficient incentive to educated girls, and until they learned that a,

ouse could lie run on interesting lines, they were not going to have much euuiusiasni for domestic work. In this connection Miss Barr paid a tribute to the work that was being done at Studholme House, Dunedin. Girls would soon begin to see that house craft and management were scu.iects io be .studied and >.cionrc« lo bo ajiplicd. It was to be hoped that i.ehue'iong teachers from St-udliolm* House would be found in nil our guts’ schools, and that they would spri ad the gospel of interest; in horisewcrk. for this .vouid do most Loivp.rds .breaking do • n the disinJm; i i a -r m.-inv irirl.s felr towards it. It appeared inevitable that an increasing number of educated girls would have to take up domestic work, and it ought to bo as interesting and as well paid as much of the work girls do at present. Thore had been too much in the past of the attitude that alter all they were only girls, and that their schools were only girls’ schools. Girls were beginning to realise that their work did count in the scheme of things. One need not he a rabid feminist to appreciate the -nluable work women could, and did. do, apart from producing and ..ringing .up children. Gilds should . know what their own sex had contributed to tho world’s good. They did know, now, that marriage need not be all and end all of a girl’s existence, but they had many generations of feeling that it was so, to live down. The idea that a girl was a success only if she married, had influenced women’s work, because they had allowed themselves to think, anil it had been forced home to her by others, that the careers they had chosen would not he permanent ones, but would suffice until such time as they married. This leu to imperfect work. Nowadays, however, tho opinion was growing that marriage need not lie a. ban to pursuing the career already entered upon, and many women were finding it possible, to marry and at +lie same time carry on businesses or continue research work.

Before concluding, tho speaker drew attention to what who thought was a, very important point, and one which bore considerably on tho success or failure of a girl’s work. It was tho question of health. She ought to. bo .from thinking Hiat she laboured under physical ■ disabilities. Fortunately, tho day had long passed when delicacy was considered an addition to feminine charms. Robust health was an asset to the modern girl, and encouraged as she was to take plenty or physical exercise and to' wear clothes that were becoming, and at the same time sensible and hygienic, she should no longer be allowed to think herself in any way disabled or handicapped. At the conclusion of the address Miss Barr answered several questions, and was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks.