The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-06-22

The Home Scientific
What the College Course May Contribute.

The home offers women an I'M
portant and responsible field OF
a 'tivity. The modern suggestion
that higher education may dea
directly with the scientific organi
cation of it and thus lead to bet,
ter conditions there, strange tc
say, is generally received with
doubt if not with positive mega
ton.
Americans firmly believe that
the true basis of private charac.
ter and of national supremacy
lies i'll the home, and that here
woman's influence is paramount.
But the great bulk Of our people
do net consider that the culture
of a college education is necessary
for her who must assume these
responsibilities. The minority
who do believe III it still cling to
the old college curriculum and re-
fuse to accept as worthy of con.
sideration those newly organized
courses dealing directly with the
management of the home. In
other words, large part of the
country still cling to the belief
that women take to the care of
the household naturally, and that
college training, whether general
or specific, not only will iniure a
God-glven power, but also will
tend to remove all lovable and
womanly qualities that the sub
jects possess.
1t would seem impossible for
anyone who is truly familiar with
the average American home to ac-
cept TRANQUILITY the assertion that
it cannot be improved by the
special education of the one who
is in control. The evidence of
the way most women take to
housekeeping NATURALLY" Is
familiar to our eyes as the cry for
remedy from the ills is to our
ears.
The correct organization and
management Of the home IS no
light question. The public de-
mands that men shall have edu-
cation and experience before they
are allowed control in commercial
or political subjects, yet the same
public prefers that women shall
not have a serious and specific
training for housekeeping.
We therefore face two positions
in regard to the uplifting of this
most important social institu-
tion-the home. The majority
of citizens evidently think that
nothing can be done. by education
to improve the home, 80 they
patiently endure and make the
best of what they find, hoping
that time will bring amelioration.
The minority hold that rightly
directed education will materially
improve conditions in the house,
hold. The times demand that
this latter class shall 60 to work
like Sentimental Tommy" and
Find a way"
The education of women al
ways has been considered impor-
tant in America. Before the col
lege was open to them there were
which gave at least
literature and language.
The conventional college courses
were offered in 1861 when Vassar
College began. Now all fields of
graduate and university work are
available and women's ambition
can have full play.
Improvements, therefore, have
been taking place in opportunl-
ties for their education, and we
should see some corresponding
advance in the order and manage
ment of the home if the college
culture is being utilized to benefit
woman's special fielu of labor.
And yet, in the main, this con.
nectlon has not taken place, and
the home continues as before, a
most poorly organized institution.
Business and municipal interests
conducted by men, in the mean
while, are showing the good effect |
Of improved organization result
ing from the practical bearing of
college courses.
When the college was opened .
TO woman the curriculum was the |
same as that for men. The idea |.
in the minds of the promoters was