The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1909. THE STRAIN OF EXAMINATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2424, 12 February 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1909. THE STRAIN OF EXAMINATION.

A brief telegram from Auckland the other clay referred to an important discussion which took place at a meeting of the University Senate on the question of the education of girls. With the object of lessening the strain in girl’s secondary schools, the Itev. A. Cameron proposed:—“That, with a view to lessening the strain in girl’s secondary schools, and in order to encourage the development of practical education in the same, the Minister of Education be asked to increase the number of senior national scholarships, so as to provide annually, say, fifteen of such scholarships for girls only; in the event of the Minister agreeing to this request, the present senior national scholarships, also the junior University scholarships, to be open for boys.” The mover, in pleading that the strain "on the girls should be lessened, said that all the doctors who had anything to do with these examinations, and had gone through them,, stated that the strain was too groat. He was sure if there was a, number of scholarships for girls’ schools that would lessen the pressure. No girl should be allowed to go up for. a senior scholarship who had not had a-course in cookery. He would make one of the subjects domestic .science. They- should frame the scholarships so that they would lit the girls for playing their proper part in the community. All girls who went to the secondary schools should have domestic science as woll as cookery. It would do good to the schools and the girls if the latter were, compelled to tako as one of their subjects domestic science. What were they doing at present ? They were exporting the brightest young men by means of Rhodes and national scholarships, and by means of scholarships they wore injuring the health of their brightest girls. He had mentioned fifteen .and it must be remembered that girls had won six last year, fifteen the year before, and tho year before that seventeen. If the Government granted the request for an increase the Senate should rosolvo to limit the national scholarships to boys. The Rev. Mr Cameron's motion provoked a very interesting discussion on the advisableness of placing both sexes upon an absolute equality in the matter of education. On this' point Fro-

lessor F. D. Brown said that equality between boys and girls was a mistake. Although a great many girls might not take any part directly in competition, yet their whole'education was influenced and deflected iron, what.,was for them the rigid- path by tho junior scholarship examination, therefore, any step which tended to -shake tin’s principle was desirable, Mr Hogben, Inspector-General of Schools, said they should train the girls to make them realise the dignity of the domestic work of the , women of the nation. Tho training in domestic science which girls ought to get was not altogether the same as that which they received with written, work. He welcomed the motion, as it made the •Senate think on the differentiation which there should he in tho education of girls and hoys. That there should bo differentiation had been recognised in Switzerland, Germany and other countries, and would have to be recognised here. It affected the life and the future of tho nation. One of the greatest difficulties of tho situation was pointed opt by Mr F. E. Baumc, ALP., .who said tho whole system of education was based upon the fact that men and women were equally entitled to attain the same positions and to have the same opportunities. That,was the whole principle of women’s rights. They were told that women were the equals of men intellectually, - and, given every opportunity, would prove it, but from what had been said women were incapable of standing the physical strain of competitive examinations as men were.

Enough has been quoted from a very interesting discussion to indicate its trend and importance. It is for educational authorities to decide if the aims of men and women in life are identical. If they' arc not then it is manifestly foolish to train them in precisely ilie same way. Mr. Cameron's motion was not carried, but it -erred the author’s purpose by introducing a subject that must undoubtedly command attention later on.