Instruction in cookery (Methuen's text-books, Thompson)

In a training-school it is necessary to have a marked talent for governing, for criticizing without discouraging others, and also to have considerable technical skill in the domestic arts themselves. The salaries paid in most training-schools are not so good as under the education authorities, except in the case of the head teachers; and there is a growing tendency, too, to io8 appoint the lady principals of training-schools from among the happy possessors of degrees, and with no domestic subjects qualifications at all. The peripatetic teacher requires a bright manner, good health, a power of making headway against the disadvantages of makeshifts of all kinds, and an insight into the wants and tastes of those she teaches. But the successful teacher of children requires unfailing patience, tact, and all those qualities portrayed in the chapters devoted to the ideal teacher in books on Method. But besides, the domestic economy teacher wants an insight into the terrible effects of improper feeding on the English race, the way in which food may be prepared so as to satisfy the craving for alcohol, and the needs of her neighbourhood. She should try to make herself acquainted with the standard works on certain social problems, such as Charles Booth’s 4 Life and Labour of the People of London,’ Mrs. Bosanquet’s ‘ The Standard of Life ’ and ‘ The Strength of the People,’ and a charming little book called ‘ The Queen’s Poor,’ by Miss Loame. I have mentioned these books because it is all-important for a teacher to have a literary knowledge of social problems and the many suggested solutions. But what is far better than reading is for the student to gain some insight into the homes of her pupils by personal visits to them, or by going a round or two with a district nurse ; and while the lady of the house is pouring forth her woes, she may look at the stoves used. The few cooking utensils are generally well in view (especially the ubiquitous frying-pan). Owing to the untiring efforts of those in authority to produce a really good syllabus, it is generally becoming CONCLUSION iog possible to refute the charges that expensive savouries alone are taught to cottagers, and that nothing but the making of rock cakes is taught in the elementary schools. It has been suggested it would not be a bad thing for domestic economy students in training to have a district in the poorer parts of the town assigned to them, much as is done with the men at the ‘ clergy ’ schools’. They could be told the rents paid, and the wages earned in certain districts and callings in life ; or, again, they might be attached to a lady sanitary inspector, and accompany her on some of her rounds. I recommend these methods, as the poor differ so in different districts, and so few students trained in the provinces have any idea of the conditions which prevail in London, and vice versa. The Irish poor differ so much from the English poor ; the Scotch, again, are totally different, and it is very difficult for any girl coming straight from a trainingschool, say, in the North of Scotland to at once grasp the conditions of life under which London children are living.