In many agricultural colleges, and in seminaries and academies like
those in Auburndale, Massachusetts, and Painesville, Ohio, there are
such courses in the curricula. On the other hand, there can be no
question whatever as to the propriety and necessity of introducing,
as has already been done, courses in domestic science into the great
technical schools, such as Pratt, Drexel, and Armour institutes.
The School of Housekeeping established in Boston in 1897 under the
auspices of the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union went still
further, in that it was not so much a technical school as a more
truly genuine professional school for the training of experts in
the great profession of housekeeping. The honorable record it made
while an independent institution gives reason to believe that, now
that it has been merged in Simmons College, it will go on to still
greater achievements under the new conditions. The establishment of
similar schools elsewhere has been much discussed, while in some
places there have been sporadic efforts to establish classes in
household training. Indeed, it must be said that in certain classes
of fashionable schools it is at this moment the latest fad to have
instruction in all household matters, quite is much as in art and
music.
Study and investigations have led to organization, and the first
association in the field was the National Household Economic
Association, formed in 1893, with branches in many states, some of
which did admirable work.
The Lake Placid Conference that met first in 1899 is not strictly an
organization, but an informal gathering of workers who have discussed
the subject particularly on its scientific side, since the attendance
has been largely made up of those interested in the educational and
scientific side of household economics. Its proceedings give an
admirable summary of the latest scientific discussions of the subject.
The most recent as well as the most important of all such
organizations has been that of the Inter-Municipal Research Committee
formed “for the purpose of studying existing phases of household
work, to aid in securing fair conditions for employer and employee,
and to place their relations on a sound business basis.” Much
has already been accomplished by it, especially in the direction
of investigating employment agencies, establishing a bureau of
information, and studying the conditions under which colored girls
from the South are brought to the North to enter domestic service.
Its programme for the future lays out a constantly enlarging sphere
of activities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account