THE TEACHING OF NEEDLEWORK IN SCHOOLS.
Garment Construction in Schools. By Ada Hicks. (Mac- millan and Co. 4e. 6d.)—Dressmaking in the School. By J. C. Cooke and H. M. Kidd. (Longmans and Co. 4e. 6d. net.)—If needlework is to be properly taught in elementary schools, it is important that the teacher should have a clearly defined scheme of work before her. The time allotted to sewing is not long, and unless it is used to the best advantage the bad results are obviously and immediately apparent. A wise economy of time is, however, a difficult achievement, and the school managers who read these books will long for mistresses competent to carry out the high ideals of teaching which are well set forth in both of them. Miss Hicks begins by giving us "Extracts from Board of Education and London County Council Circulars and Reports," and goes on to discuss in detail "The Choice of Garments for the School Year," "Cutting-out," and "Making-up," besides supplying an appendix on "Mending and Renovation," which, as she wisely points out, is of the greatest "practical value in adding to the comfort and general well-being of the home," but which is often neglected by the mothers as well as the daughters. In Dressmaking in the School the aim of the writers has been to correlate the teaching of needlework in elementary schools with the requirements of trade schools. It is a thoroughly practical book, and contains graduated lessons in "machine and hand stitchery, taking measurements, making patterns, cutting-out and making-up garments such as blouses, skirts, and dresses." The amateur dressmaker, as well as the pro- fessional teacher, will here find information which can be turned to good account. Both these books are well illustrated with pictures and diagrams.
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