TRAINING OF GIRLS.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 266, 18 August 1917, Page 7

TRAINING OF GIRLS.

EDUCATION COINCIL’S PROPOSALS CRITICISED.

Sir Robert Stout presided at .1 m eting held in the Concert Chamber, Wellington to discuss tlie Council of Education’s proposals respecting the vocational training of girls, a meeting which had been arranged by the Society tor the Protection of Women and Children. Lady Stout wasthe first speaker, and emphasised the v.ilue of .» higher t duration without undervaluing domestic science. Professor Hunter made a po.nt of the decision of the l niversity Senate not to allow a girl to matriculate until she had gone through a course of domestic science. Mr W. 11. L. Foster moved: “That this meeting of Wellington citizens, while in full sympathy with domestic training for women, strongly protests against any alteration of our educational system that will place disabilities on women aim deprive them of educational rights equal to those of men. That the meeting consider that the adoption of the recent proposals of the Council of Education on this matter would have these disastrous consequences, and therefore cjlls on the Department not to give effect to them.” Mr Foster said he was present as champion o f tin* primary schools and to oppose the recommendation that the education of girls from the third standard i.pwards be differentiated, and that they should be under the charge of women teachers. The Council ot Education had reaffirmed a resolution of last September th.it vocational training should be given effect to in the primary schools in the case of children from 10 to 14 years of age. As to vocational training in primary schools, the Council of Education should answer two questions. The first one was: Did children between 10 and 14 years of age require to learn physiology and hygiene, the principles and practice of homecraft, economy in feeding and clothing, and the care of children? Secondly: Should positions be ear-marked for women? He agreed with Lady Stout that women should have the sante rights as men, and therefore did not believe that positions should be earmarked for women. If the v had the

capacity and ability they would get such positions. Miss Load, who seconded the motion, said if there were fewer subjects taught in primary education it would be better. M iss McLean, in referring to the proposed differentiation in education, reviewed the history of education for girls from 1836, when accomplishments such as music and dancing were the chief subjects. She also objected in this vocational training to the proposal that it >hould be compulsory. She also mentioned that with the new compulsory subjects, it would not be possible for pupils to qualify for the free places in the high schools in two years. The course would have to be three years, and the regulations would have to be altered accordingly. Mrs 11. Smith thought that the time for serious vocational training was after the ordinary school years, because at that time girls took more interest in those things. She also said that it was one of the most difficult things to teach girls to think, and that more homes had been ruined by women unable to think than by those unable to cook. Mrs A. R. Atkinson also made an interesting speech in support of the ideas embodied in the* Council of Education’s recommendation. M iss Myers also defended the proposals. Mr F'oster’s motion, when put to the meeting, was carried by about 50 to (>.