468 REPORTS ON THEi STATE OP SCIEKOE. 



3. The question of accommodation for the efficient teaching of 

 domestic economy arises in the case of pupils of over twelve years of age. 

 For younger pupils no special provision seems necessary ; but for girls of 

 over twelve special equipment is necessary for the teaching of household 

 operations, such as washing, cooking, and the various duties included 

 under the term ' housewifery.' In the case of large girls' schools the 

 difficulty is not insuperable. In the case of small, and especially of rural, 

 schools the difficulty is considerable, both in respect of accommodation 

 and in the provision of a qualified teacher. In such cases the Committee 

 are of opinion that the provision of centres of instruction is desirable. 

 These centres might be utilised certainly in a large number of districts by 

 a group of small schools whose scholars would be sent at fixed periods to 

 receive instruction by a special teacher. Such centres might also be 

 employed for instruction in manual work for boys in the upper standards 

 of primary schools. The same accommodation might be made available 

 with advantage for evening instruction in these subjects. It is desirable 

 to point out that the equipment for the teaching of domestic economy 

 should approximate as closely as possible to that available in the home. 

 The more closely the arrangements of the domestic economy school can be 

 approximated to those of a well-ordered home the better. 



It does not seem desirable to stereotype instruction by imposing a 

 definite and detailed syllabus ; but some guide should be afforded teachers, 

 especially in respect of pupils between, say, the ages of eight and twelve years. 

 In this connection much valuable information may be obtained from the 

 16th volume of the 'Special Reports on Educational Subjects' (school 

 training for the home duties of women). Special attention may be 

 directed to the article on ' Housewifery Instruction in State-supported 

 Schools in Belgium.' The teaching of domestic economy in Belgium has 

 received careful attention at the hands of the Government, and attention 

 is drawn to the Ministerial Circular of September 1, 1887, which is trans- 

 lated at page 119 of the volume referred to. The Committee hope it 

 may be possible later to prepare a practical course of domestic subjects 

 in detail. 



