New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
Light on the Problems of
Institutional Management
Miss Florence Cobet Professor and Lecturer at Columbia
University, Discourses Ably on the Possibilities
of Prunes and Dietetcs.

The most important thing about institu-
tional MANAGEMENT" continued this young
woman. who has the responsibility OF feed
INK four hundred girls. is 10 know your
people. should not think of feeling the
girls here at Whittier IN the same way that
I would aged people or men who were
doing hard, physical labor. Girls need food
for growing. They need bodybuilding
tissue. Old people need quick, stimulating
foods. Girls need a great deal more fresh
fruit. and variety too, than older peo-
pie do
"A woman In charge of an institution
has a problem which she can face salts
factorily only II she brings 10 IT the power
OF ideals She must know what people OF
good taste require in the way, not only OF
food itself. but OF service, silver and linen
ami surroundings. These ideals must De
acquired from her own home, from travel
and observation. She must have an open
mind, quick to learn and to adapt what she
| sees TO her own needs.
The great trouble with institutional pro-
viding heretofore has been that the women
who had charge OF tt were not filled with
| the high ideals. nor had they had training
to enable them 10 deal with the complex
problem before them. woman in such
position must have a knowledge OF chem
istrY and dietetics 10 enable her to select
wisely from the store OF food possibilities
at her disposal. She must have. also,
Ideals about food preparation and service.
Ultimately, the ideal is that of financial
success, for in the end, no matter how
pleasing the table may have been, II there
Is nothing with which 10 meet the bills her
! dining hall is a failure.
"The only way by which a woman can
ascertain before IT is too late to retrace her
steps whether or not she is capable OF filling
such a place Is through practice teaching, n
thing almost impossible to get. Teachers
College however, has taken a step or two
I'm that direction by permitting the pupilc
In Institutional dietetics to supervise some
of the work here In whittier Hall | am
In hopes, too, that next year we shall De-
able TO give them more varied practice In
Whittier Hall. OF course, all they can do
is TO cover few OF the details OF large
system. / want them to learn to swing a
whole small system. For this reason. II
can, I shall establish two small tea rooms
In the college next year which will be given
wholly into the hands of the students. II
girl makes good In the tearoom she viii
be promoted to the charge Of one depart
ment somewhere else, for example, the MAX
ing OF cocoa or sandwiches for the Horace
Mann School When she has learned 10
handle large quantities Of food and to work
In harmony with other people then she will
enter the last class. the management OF the
Whittier Hall dining rooms.
There Is a great field for women OF
executive ability in places such as this, and
the salary is much better than many worn
on workers receive. Any beginner should
start with $500 In addition to her keep.
and In the best places a head dietetician
should receive $1,000 or $1,000"