NEARLY 90 years ago the Southampton parents of girls who had left school were given some advice which would raise more than a few eyebrows today.

Under the headline, “What To Do With Our Girls”, the Daily Echo’s weekly women’s column, “The Housewife’s Calendar”, tackled the question of how to ensure their teenage daughters chose the correct type of job in their future careers.

“As school days draw to a close one hears discussions amongst our daughters as to what they want to do and what they do not want to do when they leave school,” said the un-named columnist back in 1927.

“The modern girl is not so ready to settle down quietly at home as in the past, and most parents will agree that whatever their position may be, the best way for a girl to learn independence, the value of money, and the value of work is to let her qualify for some post, be it great or obscure, and earn her own living, even if only for a time.

“One will hear a father say: ‘My daughter is going to be a teacher’, without having considered whether the girl has any special aptitude for that profession or any desire to follow this line of work.”

The column goes on to suggests there are more jobs for girls “who excel in one or two branches of knowledge”, than the girl who has “merely a smattering of many”.

"The Housewife’s Calendar" goes on to say: “One advantage of our time is that there is hardly a business or profession that is not open to women. If a girl has business instincts she can train, for a very reasonable amount, to take a position in an office.

“If she has artistic tendencies she could become a drawing mistress, but she must be prepared for uphill work at first.

“The girl of great ability, who is anxious to have a career with a capital ‘C’, as the saying goes, and whose parents are in a position to pay expensive training fees, could enter law or medicine.”

There were also words of advice for parents of girls “who cannot aim so high” as there was always the Civil Service.

“For the girl with domestic tendencies there is cookery and house-wifery; for the girl specially fond of children there is opportunities as governess or nurse.”

The columnist also had definite views on social etiquette as in another feature the writer was keen to explain how women should behave correctly on the dance floor.

“Don’t chatter while you are dancing as it is better to concentrate on one thing only - that is, dancing as well as you know how,” urged the column.

“Don’t look floppy, keep your head erect, the waist forward, the shoulders back and your feet well back from your partner.

“Don’t think you are looking your best if you are tired. If dancing tires you it is probably because you don't have good balance."

“Don’t look bored. Cultivate a pleasant expression and a ready smile.”