In higher elementary or “central” schools, where the pupils normally remain until the end of the school year in which they reach the age of fifteen, Domestic Subjects’ teaching may have a much wider scope than at the ordinary Centre, as the pupils are at a very intelligent age, and represent the best of the elementary scholars.  A special syllabus is prepared according to the individual need of each school, by the Domestic Subjects’ teacher and the headmistress; the instruction is a very definite part of the curriculum, and the teacher a member of the school staff.

In London and other large towns, and with certain County Councils, the Centre is under the general supervision of the headmistress of the school to which it is attached, but technical details are entirely in the hands of the teacher of Domestic Subjects and of the superintendent who visits periodically.  In some rural areas, the conditions are not so satisfactory.  Frequently one teacher has to serve several villages, visiting them for instruction on certain days.  The accommodation in such places is often sadly deficient, and much ingenuity and resource are needed to overcome difficulties which do not occur when the Centre is well-equipped and in continuous use, and the teacher, as she should be, a regular member of the school staff.

On leaving school, there are many scholarships open to the girls for further training, (a)for a home course, (b) for domestic service, (c) for the trades of laundress, needlewoman, dressmaker, and cook.  These scholarships are held at Technical Institutes, or Trade Schools, and the training given is admirable in kind.

A qualified teacher who wishes to take up elementary school work will have no difficulty, if physically fit, in obtaining a post under a County Council or other educational authority at a salary of L80 per annum, usually rising by annual increments to L120.  The maximum is not so high as that for teachers of ordinary subjects, and pensions are not universal, though most councils make fairly adequate provision for retirement, breakdown, and ill-health.

There is at present very little direct promotion open to the Domestic Subjects’ teacher in elementary schools.  In London there are practising-centres for students in training, and training centres for teachers during the probationary period, the managers of which hold very responsible posts that carry extra salary.  The inspecting staff is usually chosen from teachers of experience, but this is necessarily limited in numbers, vacancies occurring only rarely.  The salary attached to these posts is from L150 to L300.  Many good posts in the Colonies have been obtained by Domestic Subjects’ teachers in elementary schools.  Some teachers have become foreign missionaries, Children’s Care Committee visitors, or home mission workers and visitors.  Some have established model laundries, others have taken charge of students’ hostels and boarding-houses; while many have been successful in the needle-trades, luncheon and tea-rooms, and in lecturing and demonstrating for gas and electric companies.