The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-01-20
DOMESTIC SCIENCE IN MANkATO
HIGH SCHOOL.
Interesting Report on the Subject Is
Submitted to Board of Education
BY Mrs. 3. o. Smith; Labors
of Miss Jennings; Course of
Study and instruction in Her
Department


Department.
From thursdays Daily.
The domestic science department
of the high school is this year a
greater success than ever before.
Mrs. B. ID. Smith, who has particu-
lar charge of this department and
takes great interest and pride i'm it,
presented a detailed report to the
school board last night on the sub
ject She presented report from
Miss Jennings, the teacher Of this
department, showing the broad scope
of the work the first half Of the
year
According to Miss Jennings re-
port. four periods week were de-
voted to it in the high school. First
was taken up the preservation of
fruits and vegetables, including the
theory of fermentation and sterili-
cation and practical work with can.
ned peaches, canned tomatoes and
picking. Then came classification
of foods and their chemical compost
ton. Under the head of carbohy-
drate foods came experiments with
the effect of heat, methods Of cook
cry and practical work with vege-
table soups, vegetables and starch
buildings. The vegetables worked
with were potatoes, tomatoes, squash,
turnips, etc. The same process was
used with proteid foods, and the
practical work went into the cook
cry of eggs, cheese, etc.
Batters and Dough.
Work on batters and coughs was
then taken up, and the different
ways of leavening taught, and prac-
teal work given in beating in Of
air, as with mullins; use of baking
powder, as with baking powder bis
cults; use of soda and sour milk, as
with corn bread, ginger bread and
griddle cakes; egg white, beaten
stiff, as in Omelet and sOuffie.
Simple desserts were then taught,
such as bread buildings, steamed
buildings and lemon gelatine. Under
the heading of meat. the composition
and structure, different cuts of meat
and marketing were taught, but prac.
/; teal work was confined mostly to
the cheaper cuts.
In the matter of serving, directions
were given for laying the table, and
practical work was given in the
serving of one simple food, and in
the planning and serving of sim
pie breakfast A continuation of the
work on desserts came then, and
general directions and practical work
were given on pastry, including cram
berry and apple pies. Plum buildings
were also taught. Christmas candy
was the last subject taken up be-
fore the holidays. The class sold
$7.35 worth of plum buildings at
Christmas time, and the proceeds
will be used in the purchase of sup
plies.
The Beginning Class.
In the eighth grade, general di-
rections for cleaning were the first
thing given. Then came fire making,
including the study of the range,
the gas range and burners. Expert
ments and practical work were made
with creamed potatoes and boiled
rice, under the head of carbohydrate
foods. In proteid foods, experiments
and practical work were done with
boiled custard, cottage cheese, poach-
ed eggs and cheese dishes. Lastly,
a combination of food principles was
taught, including tomato soup, bis
cults, corn bread, ginger bread, short
cake and Christmas candy.
Sewing Taught.
In the subject of domestic art one
period a week was given in the high
school, and the time was spent on
the making of the corset cover, I'M
der the branches of materials suit
able, cutting and fitting of garment,
finishing and models of buttonholes.
The eighth grade class was taught
to make holders, kitchen aprons
and Christmas articles, such as bags,
pin cushions and handkerchiefs.
Mrs. Smith said that the high
school pupils in domestic science
were taught the different cuts of
COW. A large picture of cow was
made and each pupil required to
mark and give the names of the
various cuts and to ascertain the
price of each in the local markets.
The girls got breakfast one day.
The expense of the domestic sci
ence department from September l
to January 1 was $360.93, including
supplies purchased, 5000, and teach.
er's salary, $3.50, but not including
fuel, which might be 81 month.
The expense per pupil was very low
and the work done was excellent
Different members of the board ex-
pressed their satisfaction with what
they termed a splendid showing.
Mrs. Smith said that during the
first half of the year the only thing
purchased outside of the supplies
was one knife. A few articles were
needed, now. The committee on
schools was authorized to make the
purchases.