Story: Primary and secondary education

A home science class, 1939 (1st of 2)

A home science class, 1939

Preparing girls for their future roles as wives and mothers was the aim behind the introduction of compulsory home science in 1917. In many girls' schools this replaced or dominated other science subjects. The nurse-like uniforms worn by the girls in this cooking class of 1939 show how seriously the subject was taken. From 1942, with the introduction of a core secondary curriculum, home science was no longer compulsory for all girls.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Making New Zealand Centennial Collection (PAColl-3060)
Reference: PAColl-8550-08
Photograph by Green & Hahn

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Primary and secondary education - Curriculum changes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/36652/a-home-science-class-1939 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 20 Jun 2012