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130
APPENDIX K.
11th September, 1919.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Health Committee.
INSTRUCTION IN HYGIENE.
SCHOOL FOR MOTHERS.
A School for Mothers was included in the extension of the Municipal Clinic (1), 9, Willesden
Lane, when the adjoining property, 24, St. Julian's Road, was taken in.
This extension was completed in April, 1918, and the School for Mothers was begun in September,
1918.
Enquiries were made for a teacher qualified to take:—
(1) Health talks—including midwifery, mothercraft and hygiene, (2) Sewing, (3) Cookery
and (4) Laundry, the following institutions being approached:—
(1) National Society Training College for Teachers of Domestic Subjects, 54,
Fortune Green Road, West Hampstead.
(2) Battersea Polytechnic.
(3) National Training School of Cookery, 72, Buckingham Palace Road.
(4) L.C.C. Educational Department, Victoria Embankment.
(5) King's College for Women.
The most suitable candidate recommended was Miss Alexandre, the following being an extract
from the letter of the Principal of the Hygiene Department of the Battersea Polytechnic with reference
to her:—
"The qualifications necessary are not easily to be had, but I have two students
completing their training in July, one of whom more than fills your requirements.
The minimum commencing salary that should be paid is £130 per annum. I could
thoroughly recommend Miss Phyllis Alexandre. She has had four years' training.
She has had three years as a Domestic Science teacher and she holds a Diploma in
Cookery, Housewifery, Laundry work, Needle-work and Dressmaking. Since September,
1917, she has been a student in the Hygiene Department and has taken the full
combined course of training for an Infant Welfare worker, Health Visitor and Sanitary
Inspector. She has done some excellent work and in addition to the theoretical and
practical work in the Polytechnic she has been attached for one whole day a week for
practical experience in Infant Welfare work and in Home Visiting to the Infant Welfare
Centre at Bethnal Green, where she has worked under Miss Barker, the Superintendent,
so that her knowledge of Infant Welfare work as well as her knowledge of Domestic
Science is particularly good. She is a lady by birth and education and was educated
in good secondary schools at Birkdale, and obtained from School an Honours Certificate
of the Senior Oxford Local Examination. She also holds the Certificate of the Sanitary
Inspectors' Examination Board and in July, when she completes her training here,
she will take the examinations for the Battersea Polytechnic Certificate for Infant
Welfare Workers and Health Visitors, which certificate is recognised by the Local
Government Board as a qualification for appointment under Municipal Authorities.
I have every reason to believe that she will be awarded the certificate, as the work she
has done during her training is very good indeed. Miss Alexandre is 22 years of age,
but looks considerably older. She is conscientious and thorough in all she does. She
is at present applying for a post at Swindon, where the same qualifications axe requited
as you are requiring, but I think would prefer to be in London, as she could live at
home at Pinner. There are very few candidates who hold similar qualifications to
Miss Alexandre and I am finding it difficult to supply the demand for students trained
at the Polytechnic."
Miss Alexandre commenced duties on the 2nd September, 1918, at a salary of £120 per annum
plus current war bonus, and completed the equipment of the School for Mothers. She also prepared
the following syllabus:—
School for Mothers.
Monday, p.m. Sewing A.
Tuesday, p.m. Laundry Work.
Wednesday, a.m. Cooking A.
Thursday, p.m. Sewing B.
Friday, p.m. Cooking B.