New-York tribune., 1907-10-05
HOME DETERIORATION.
Committee of Prominent Social Workers
Investigating Causes

Vital causes of the deterioration of tho American
home are discussed in Bulletin No. Of the Nation
al Society for the Promotion Of Industrial Educa-
ton. now in the press. which deals with industrial
education for II was prepared as the re-
suit Of a searching investigation by the socety's
subcommittee on industrial education for women
the members Of which are: Mary Morton Kehew
chairman, president Women's Educational and In
duStrlai Union, Boston; Jane Addgns, Hull House.
Chicago; Sarah Louise Arnold. dean of Simmons
College. Boston, Emily Greene Bach, professor Of
political economy. Wellesley College: Sophoniaba
r Breckenridge. Chicago University; Susan NJ
Bngsbury. assistant professor of history, Simmons
College: Florence NJ. Marshall director Boston
Trade School for Girls. and Mary Schenck Wool
man. director Manhattan Trade School for Girls
The report is preliminary 10 general discussion OF
industrial education for women at the coming con-
venton Of the society in Chicago December
s. and Z.
The committee reports
Concident with the feeling that the industrial
women not trained for the positions of trust
American home the institution whose deveopment
deterioratng; and its possible downfall is looked
upon upon with dismay because by it the unity OF SO
II is but natural to trace these situations one
Women knew how to do things. and necessity Was is
not only the mother OF invention" but 1t the
motive which made development possible. In the
changed conditions which have come with the rapid
individuals are supplied without any knowledge of
how things are produced Not only is production
the great centres but special lines OF production
ar are aIieE 70 1ete M parts OF tne country so that
process can be found in but few homes. Those
factory processes, while even in the remote parts
has been II f Of s % on
on and the standard OF the home is to be main
ing of industrial methods must be supplied and
as % we as men be & trained in the
duce or to direct production. as they, are con-
making consumers they must have knowledge
OF industry; y T,hey must know both how things are
The problem for the training of women is COM
Of modern life opens so many avenues for training
that the selection Of what is most vital is easily
is 1T not also essential that sSe be tot trained
In some special occuPatioa that she may be useful
what of the thousands OF women who are obliged
after arPaee viii not t0ns r eanGs GF m
any any lire OF Industry make for better women and
The evolution of woman In industry is briefly this
Gusra @ when the home S was Seti the centre Of in
dustry she was both producer and a consumer
q the eens sns Of G
cerned the home to hs h aSoTy While Il fho
home still remains the centre Of consumption: 90
must have opportunity understand the ever
In the United States census for 100, we find thar
out of more than 1900 900 women sixteen years
poyed IN gainfui occupations, and comparison CT
1890 shows that the number Of women woTkInr for
pay has increased much more rapidly during the
tildn mas tne TOTAL female population IL IS
obvious that constantly Increasing number of
women are obliged TO spend anywhere from three
TO ten years at work before marriage The imnort-
ance of the occupation which women enter in help
by that nearly 5netRrd sos per ~
all women between the ages of fifteen and twenty-
four gainfully employed. '
TIE educator Is thus confronted with Fl twofold
problem, as far as womans education Is concerned:
ID Opportunity must be given for women who are
never TO become wage earners to gain a knowledCe
of industrial conditions and processes through tba
introduction OF technical and scientific schools and
courses; 90 opportunity must be given for women
become
early age 10 receive training which will ena BILE them
development is possible.
The report urges the establishment of both night
and day industrial public schools for girls ard
young women, and the introduction of additional
woik of this kind of preliminary Character in
the curriculum af the public schools