HOME MAKING A SCIENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 12

HOME MAKING A SCIENCE.

HOUSEHOLD AD.MEVfSTRATION AT university of Chicago. COURSE OPEN TO MEN ALSO. DOMTKTTC ECONOMICS T .VUG HI BY EXPERTSUniversity of Chicago students are to i( K> offered in the now “department of i/on-eliold administration” opportnmi ics never bolero presented in a cominofn course. Moreover, tho depart- . n ot is to lie on equal terms with those ,-,i matlK'iinitics, Greek, modern languages or any other branch of study, and both men and women are to share in its bandits. '•A'omen, in all ages, have had the handling of a largo proportion of tho household money of tho world, hut have never yet received scientilic or adequate instruction for their work, f.fen, delegating tho spending and administration of tho household money to women, have seldom taken keen or due interest in tho result. Vet matters of household administration should ho of equal interest to householders or fainlily nieinliers of both sexes, and should hu studied scientifically by men and women alike.” This, in tew words, is ttho basis on which rests the inundation (scheme of tho now department. The purpose of this educational innovation is explained further us follows: Students of social movements look ■ with apprehension on present day teudenoios, which draw men more and more in tho direction of commercialism and women Into industrialism, to tho detriment of homo and family lite and tho consequent injury of tho larger social interests of wliich it is the foundation. Moreover, there is a growing /conviction that, ms the universities take cognisance of tho future activities of their men students and provide courses leading to medicine, law and commerce, it ia fitting tiiat similar _ provision should bo made for tho training of women in tho direction of their probable activities. “In tho belief that the time has come when those needs should be met, tho University of Chicago announces tho /establishment of a department of household administration, whoso functions [will be to give students (1) a general view of tho place of tho household m ■society os a means of liberal culture. (2) training in tho rational and scicn■fia administration of the. homo as a social unit, (3) preparation to servo ns teachers of domestic science or as .social workers in institutions whoso activities are largely expressed through household administration.” COURSES OF STUDY O UTLINED.

Organisation oi tho retail market, house sanitation, chemistry of foods, modern problems in household administration, the application of heat to food .materials, evolution of the house, the leaching of homo economics, the state in relation to the household, the family, American cities, the elements and structure of society, rural communities, general bacteriology, public health laboratory methods, design, textiles, child hygiene, design as applied to Jross—these are among the subjects to ho treated 'by the new department. A general course in sewing and an art course in sowing are also offered, with other subjects of interest to household members. Special facilities for gaining practical experience in housekeeping, lunchroom management, marketing, household accounting and domestic science operations and teaching aro to be provided for the students, and later some novel experiments in regard to the management and supply of large numbers of individuals from a common kitchen centre aro to bo carried out. In connection with the College of Religious and Social Science and the Settlements Association frequent occasions for active participation in such philanthropic work as will supplement instruction of tho classroom will benefit those who desire to test in operation tho theories acquired. The Household Administration Club, meeting fortnightly, already does good work in discussion of new literature and'in hearing .specialists on topics not included in tho regular curriculum. Several successful sociologists and experts in lines closely akin to household administration have been engaged. MARION TALBOT AT THE HEAT). Mias Marion Talbot, dean of women, *,t the university, and recently honoured with Governor Cummings, Governor Van Sant and Secretary Wilson, a former classmate; by the degree of doctor of laws, conferred by Cornell College, heads the Hst of “officers of instruction” responsible for tho new department. Associate professor of household administration is her formal title. Miss Alice Poloubet Norton, as assistant professor of household administration, and Sophisba Preston Bi;cckcnbridge, as instructor in household administration, complete tho officers’ list. Eighteen other instructors, drawn from other departments of the university, will oiler courses in allied subjects. A fair degree of preliminary education—such knowledge of chemistry, and possibilities of foods ns may bo acquired in a high school course or under tho instruction of a mother, and sufficient rudimentary knowledge of sewing to render the higher work intelligible—will bo required of all students, but conditions imposed for lack of such knowledge may bo made up in the university high school simultaneously with the work in the household department. Some of tho simpler works will bo offered during the the present summer quarter, although most of the courses will not bo open to students until autumn. Plans for university extension and correspondence work are - being completed, and tho scope will be widened is fast as possible, BENEFIT TO COLLEGE WOMEN. It is felt by tho university authorities that great good will be rendered io .students and future Workers of both =exes by tho now department. College women are frequently desired as heads of public and philanthropic institutions, tho requisite combination of scientific and technical knowledge with executive ability being hard to find. In various departments of public and private social • service trained assistance also is at a premium, tho demand far exceeding tho supply. ■ Catering, co-operative housekeeping and the keeping of restaurants or tea rooms represent now but suitable fields of feminine occupation, and special training is needed for success in such. Social settlement and semi-religious work also calls for women workers specially trained and qualified; skilled teachers of domestic science and the household arts aro sought in many

places, and tho work of keeping house on a largo scale promises a new profession to women in the immediate lurin’ behalf of men it is urged that such matters ns dirties, household sanitation and food supplies and treatment should interest, men no less than women and it, is expected that many tliongntiill men will take up (ho study of thesebranches of household administration. jl.i/iS Talbot, as bead of the household science department, has instructed seme male students, the leader of ono ot the track teams and one ol tho physical culture instructors being among tho pupils last year.