New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-12
MRS. WILLIAMS ON HER COOKING CLASSES

MRS WILLIAMS ON HER COOKING CLASSES
Perhaps no work carried on by any agency Is
surer Of direct good effect upon the lives OF the
people Of New-York City than the teaching OF do
mestic science In tho public schools The credit
for the successful development OF this department
OF public instruction is largely due 10 Mrs Mary
L Williams. supervisor OF cookery In the schools
Of Manhattan and The Bronx
Mrs. Williams says she holds. with Lander Brun-
ton that cookery has perfect right to be ranked
with music, painting sculpture and architecture
Of the fine arts; and she believes, too, In
training the OF taste well the senses
of sight and hearing Her conception OF the edu-
cational and sociological value OF domestic science
has been gained from study. experience in teach
ing and investigation OF European and American
methods OF teaching the subject. With this she
combines a thorough knowledge Of rs practical
side.
Her special studies in this field begun at
Teachers College in 1880. IN 1891 she entered tho
normal class. taught by Mrs. Ida Hope, the first
teacher Of cookery appointed in the NewYork City
public schools. Mrs Hope died a few months
later. and Mrs 6. T Rorer carried the Of
instruction completion. the class meeting at
Mrs. Wiliamss home. Already Mrs. Williams was
teaching COOKERY at Public school No "a. s M,
Hopes death Mrs Williams was appointed to sue
troduced cooking into evening school No. -. tho
first evening school in which cooking classes were
cookery Public Schoo No. .. She continued TO
teach In three schools until 1884, when, under the
provision or inc new school law requiring super.
visor for every special subject she was appointed
to her present post She continued her studies
day during one winter to attend course Of lee
Henry Lehman at the Philadelphia Cooking School.
Later she took two years special course in
In order that her practical skin might keep pace
with her theoretical knowledge. she took lessons
IN cookery from French woman who had been the
pupil Of several famous chefs Besides her public
school work she has conducted cooking classes for
hCf mis- nd ser he T1eQ-
bers Of these classes form only small part Of the
ctys housekeepers she feels that 1t is by means
OF the great servant problem IL laid.
housekeeper 10 understand the real importance Of
the position OF the woman 10 whom she intrusts
the cookery. For, after all the health and con-
squeq the haPp5peS OF the f., family is made IN
with a sense Of the dignity OF her position, thus
feeling between cen mistress H and maid ''''
Mrs. Williams has also given demonstration .ec-
the value Of domestic science teaching pro-
moter Of temperance she IS most enthusiastic
"Everything in my own experience goes 10 prove
she said what our greatest writer's and scientific
men assert-that good cookery IS powerful mora
agent II cookery It is taught in schools o.
day could be made compulsory In every school. just
tho study Of the physiologcal effect OF alcohol
s. the advocates OF the latter teaching would At
On In The summer Of 1897 Mrs Williams spent three
months in Europe visiting the schools OF England.
France and Germany, with the special object II
.tudving the courses in domestic economy offered
She also attended the Home Congress held in Bos-
ton in the same year
Largely as a result Of her personal efforts the
number Of public schools in New-Nork City In
which cookery r. taught increased between her
sppointment 10 the apprenticeship IN October 1885,
and june 1899 from seven 10 twenty-seven. and
The number OF pupils receiving instruction in this
branch from 100 10 . joo.
Under her direction q department ~ domestic
science including cooking. Homework and nursing.
was established this summer as part of the
vacation school system. Almost every day during
The six weeks session just closed Mrs Williams
could have been found one OF the two schools
I'm which the domestic science classes were held.
With one exception, all the teachers were appointed
from the STAFF employed III the regular schools
The venture was considered thorough succeS&
At one school the lessons were announced rs
cooking lessons" and at the other as lessons IN
domestic economy" There was rush for the
cooking class but the little girls Of the East Side
had no idea what domestic economy might be.
and for a day two II looked as II the kitchen
would b. left TO Itself. When. however, II began
IN ne understood that domestic economy as the
school Board termed H. included cooking. appllca-
lions came IN so rapidly that in A few days there
was not vacancy