HOME SCIENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 211, 19 August 1933, Page 9

HOME SCIENCE

S.A. RHODES FELLOWSHIC COURSE OF LECTURES. OF INTEREST TO COUNTRY WOMEN. Seeing that a meeting of all interested country women is to be held in tile Uawn.es Bay district to decide how they will make use ol the service of lectures made possible through the Sarah Aim ituuues Fellowship, it might be ot informative interest to give an outline oi what the words ‘ home science” mean, und what the service purposes to deal with. In the minus oi many people there seems to be a misconception of the scope oi home science as a subject, and it is commonly thought that it consists merely oi cookery, dressmaking, and housework. Hie student taking Her three or lour years' course is irequeutly asked: “Viliy go to cue University and spend all mat money on learning what you could easily pick up at home?” Such remarks as these show a lack of knowledge of what is the real scope of home science, which, as a subject, aims not so much at making good cooks out of bad ones, or wise buyers out of unthrifty, but goes much luither than that, and aims directly at the improvement ot home life of the community generally. The following is the accepted definition of the goal and principles of home science teaeunig and training: — (a) “The ideal home life of to-day unhampered by the traditions of the past”—to ascertain what habits, customs and methods are good and valuable, and what are now unnecessary burdens. Home science believes that modern life should be studied from all angles, and that individuals should feel themselves free from any fear of criticism in making whatever changes in their judgment it apperas that the times and modern life demand. IMPROVING MODERN LIFE. (b) “The utilisation of all the resources of modern sciene to improve modern life.”—This involves first the knowledge of how the human being should be cared for, nourished, clothed and housed in the best interests of preserving health and happiness; and secondly, the adoption of such practices as are found to give the best rseults. Food materials, their value to the body, their choice, uses, preparation and cooking; textiles, their respective values for the different uses as clothing and furnishings; the structure, design, and organisation of the house and the work done in it; the spending of the family’s living and the woman's responsibilities as the buyer for the home. Indeed, all the material factors of home life are reviewed, and wherever science can contribute something that makes for human betterment, that idea is adopted and advocated by home science. But since the term “Ideal Home Life” denotes more than physical well-being, fundamental though that factor generally is, home science maintains as its third principle:— (c) “The freedom of the home from the dominance of things and their due subordination to ideals.’’ —If this point wants amplification consider for a moment whether the finest dwellings always house the finest people, or the best house-keeper is always the best wife and mother.

SIMPLICITY OF SURROUNDINGS.

(d) Home science advocates “the simplicity of material surroundings whieh will most free the spirit for the more important aud permanent interests of the homo and of the community,” pointing out that the goal—“ideal home lif e ”_i s not in itself an ultimate one, but that, having organised the home along sound lines, one can then find time to give to all the other responsibilities of citizenship. The S.A.R. Fellowship, therefore, presents country women with an opportunity to avail themselves of what home science has to offer as a solution of their own particular problems. In the light of its principles as here stated it may suggest that some old (and favourite) practices be discarded, but while doing all it can to emphasise the importance of doing everything in what to it appears to be the one approved way, it will never lose its sense of proportion, realising that the practical aspects are of less importance than the atmosphere of the home and the attitude of mind, character and ideals of the people in it. The meeting on Tuesday, August 22, at the Parish Hall, Taradale, is for the purpose of organising the seven weeks’ visit which the lecturer will make to the surrounding districts. All country women and the members of all the women’s organisations have been invited to attend the meeting. After a preliminary explanatory address by Miss Macmillan, the agenda will consist of the application for lectures, demonstrations and short courses by the people desiring them; the selection of subjects (by ballot if necessary), and the setting up of a standing committee to assist in tho drawing up of the programme itinerary in readiness for the commencement of the visit at the beginning of October.