The Washington times., 1895-06-19

Annex. with Miss Sloat as teacher. re-
ceiving pupils from the seventh and eighth
grades OF the third division. she other
II 626 o street northwest, with Miss
Jacobs in charge, receiving pupils from
the high school At the Peabody Annex
an old school room was used, while at
626 o street three rooms Of an old dwelling
were made suitable for the purpose by
removing one Of the partitions between
the rooms.
The outfit for these kitchens consisted OF
a long uiIcloth- covered table at which four
teen or sixteen could be comfortably seated,
where the recipes were TO be written and
all class room work done, an ice chest
two kitchen tables. portable range with
boiler or tank. sink with hot and cold water
connections and a dresser filled with those
dishes and utensils which Were necessary to
do the work well and easily.
TIE study was made elective, but such
was the interest that the classes were
crowded, aud when pupils in other sections
OF the city heard of the work they felt
sighted, and wanted classes formed for
them
Three classes Of about sixteen pupils each
were taught each day 10y each teacher,
thus making $50 pupils a week Each
class received one lesson week. Every
pupil was required TO provide herself with
a note book and kitchen apron. The recipes
Were dictated Toy the teacher. and copied by
pupils INTO these note books. after which
three or four OF the pupils were appointed
cooks. Others dish-washer, wiper, and as
sistant. respectively. Then, after the
pupils had washed their hands the diTeC-
tious given 70 The recipes We're followed,
the mixture cooked, and the product eaten.
All work was done 10y the pupils, the
teacher simply watching, directing and
assisting when required. When the
dishes were washed, wiped and put away
and ii the one hour and half allowed for
the lesson had rot passed notes upon the
care Of food materials, kitchen and uten-
sils were dictated, after which the class
was sent back TO the school from which it
came
The work was closely watched during the
year by the trustees. superintendent, super
vIsug principals and teachers whose pupils
were taught. and in a very short time twas
clearly demonstrated that cooking could
be- taught in the public schools without in
terferiug with the regular school work
IT was therefore decided TO make it a part
OF the regular course Of instruction for
pupils Of the seventh and eighth grades
To do this il was necessary to pre-
pare more teachers TO carry on the work
in the different sections Of the city. Four
pupils from the normal school We're Sc
lected and sent 10 the school kitchen at
626 o street for instruction during their
normal school year This instru tion
was given twice a week for two months.
Up TO this time the course, as dictated
by Mrs. Woodbury. had been strictly
followed, but as the teachers OF cooking
were not satisfied with the way in which
the subject was presented or taught, or
with the Arrangement Of lessons, il was
decided TO give it to these pupils of the
normal school in lectures, Illustrating
them by means OF experiments with only
as many practice lessons as would enable
them 10 handle the material easily and
do much cooking at home, especially such
as was TO be taught by them the next
year
After consulting with the supermten-
dent. who had close ! v watched the
work with the pupil teachers, IL was de-
cided by those having il IN charge 10
make an entire new course of study TO
be given by The methods pursued in all
other studies, thereby making all school
work consistent. The new method was
10 be q two-yCar course instead of one
year. eubUdyin- all the old recipes with
such others as We're required 10 round out
the instruction. This course was printed
and placed in the hands Of the teachers,
since which time II has been modified
and broadened, but the original outline
preserved.
IN September, IS five new schools were
opened, at 624 o street, on X street be
tween Second and Third, an the Jeffer.
son school, on z street between Fifteenth
and Sixteenth, and at the Addison School
The fifth teacher was selected from the
corps OF sewing teachers, when it was
found necessary to open the other school
Thus the corps OF cooking teachers was
increased to seven, who met frequently
during the year TO discuss and plan the
work, which was still closely watched
and in the majority OF places as popular
and successful as that Of the year before. I
ana successful as that Of the year before.
During this year four more pupils from th'
Normal School were prepared for the worl
of teaching cooking, and in September, 'SS
kitchens were fitted at the Wallach, Thomp
son and five places in the county, Benning
Benning Road. Anacostia, Hillsdale and Mot
"ahnols- where one teacher W given charge