TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION L. V87 



11. The Problem of Girln' Educalion in Elemenlary Scliooh, with Special 

 Reference to Trainiwj for Home Life. By Professor Millicent 

 Mackenzie. 



1, The education wbich girls receive in the elementary schools does not seem 

 to prepare them to live the life of the home. Most of them marry and undertake 

 the responsibility of bringing up a family without any real preparation for home- 

 maldiig. In our large towns the majority leave school at fourteen, or even 

 earlier. Too often these girls have worse than no heme, and the only training 

 that can intluence their later lives must he given in school. 



'2. The cun-iculum of the school is usually framed in the interest of the 

 minority, consisting either of those who are able to go on to higher schools, or of 

 those who at least have good home-life (o supplement school training. Heading 

 aloud, writing, and arithmetic have little value, as regards character-training, and 

 are too often meaningless arts to girls in the poorer parts of our great cities where 

 people do not read or write, and have no money to invest. Even sewing and 

 cookery as taught (although no doubt of value to those who can practise at home) 

 are quite out of relation to life as they know it. 



3. In order really to influence life the school must for these girls combine 

 the functions of home and school. The curriculum must be simplifled as regards 

 number of subjects, and only those retained which bear directly on life and 

 character. Health and physical training must be cared for. The school should be 

 so organised right through that it approximates as far as possible to a good home. 

 The little ones, under six or seven, should spend their time in * the nursery ' 

 (instead of the infant school) under the care of educated nurses i-ather than 

 teachers. Baths, sleep, and play to be of primary importance, and at least one 

 good meal a day prepared by the older girls and partaken of in a decent and 

 orderly manner. The older girls to take it in turns to buy, cook, and servo dinner. 

 Mending and making, washing and cleaning, to be taught practically. Arithmetic, 

 reading, and writing to be subordinate to the study of practical matters and of 

 history, literature, and geography. 



4. Experimental schools should be started in which the best ways of carryuig 

 out these reforms could be tested. 



MONDAY, Al/GUSTG. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. The Curriculum of Secondary Schools. 



(i) By T. E. Page, M.A. 



In order to properly adjust the balance of studies in secondary schools, there is 

 a pressing need, not merely for discussion, but for practical action. To that end a 

 strong committee should be immediately formed — and the British Association is 

 in an excellent position to take the initiative — with a view : — 



1. to drawing up, at least in outline, a scheme of general study to be pursued, 

 as a preliminary to any special training, by all pupils, 



(a) In schools which prepare for the Uuiveraities, and where pupils stay 



until the age of eighteen ; 

 {b) In otlier schools which do not usually prepare for the Universities, and 



where pupils often leave at the age of sixteen ; 



2. to indicating, as far as possible, what should be the method and purpose of 

 teaching the various subjects chosen ; 



3. to determining at what stage, if at any, ' specialisation ' should be allowed. 



At the present time in the large public schools with which the speaker is especially 

 acquainted the condition of things is somewhat of this nature. Whereas forty or fifty 



3£2 



