Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-12-09
Domestic Science at Home.

Domestic Science at Home.
Our school has pretty good practical
course In domestic science In its curric-
ulum, but through jealousy, pride OF
some other fault or virtue, l have felt
unwilling to let their school have first
place with my girls In this, 50 We are
having regular, though not particular
| " elaborate or spectacular, course IN
domestic science at home.
For example, the nine and ten-year-
Odds were to take up sewing last fall In
their school work, so they took It up at
home previously with their mother. OF
course they had already had some OK
perience in piecing doll quilts and help
| ing make doll clothes, but We now took
the work up more systematically.
First, some holders were made ana
some dish towels hemmsd. Then IS
spring sewing came on, a. far as posi-
bic, turned the hand work over TO the
young seamstresses.
School girls have not much time for
Homework, but when vacations come,
particularly the long one in summer,
they are much better of II . Systematic
disposal of their time Ia arranged. II tt
is not overdone they are really much
happier and contented under such
plan than to como With plunge from
systematic school work to days with
a surplus of unemployed hours on their
hands.
While it ia we'll to learn from personal
OF perieuce, the experience of someone
else is usually good thing to take as
basis on which to work. With young
girla, mother must be a general superin'
tendent Of all departments. In our case.
there being three little daughters Of
school age, the work Is divided roughly
into three parts; that of the kitchen,
dining room and living rooms and bed
rooms. Each girl takes her turn for
week at time at helping in these dit.
ferent departments-au arrangement
that makes tho work fair. interesting
and equally beneficial to all. And each
takes pride and pleasure In doing bel
work as we'll as, and striving to do 1t
little better than her sister. There are
differen. little contests as the weeks &c
by, and a generally happy, satisfactory
time 10 the result.
The Kitchen" girl helps keep the
room orderly and assists in the cooking
and baking (doing considerable OF u
alone with the aid OF suggestions and
supervisory but has nothing to do with
the dishwashing. We talk good dea
about the "whys" aud "wherefores" Of
the things that We Go and the subject Of
balanced rations, variety and pleasing ef
fects, which keeps the interest at tor
notch. Health, economy, variety and
good taste all have their places In the
planning and carrying out of the menus
The dining room and living room girl
helps make the beds and care for the
rooms, and assists In the kitchen bJ
wiping dishes and getting and preparing
some Of the vegetables, 30 that the
'cook" will not have an unfair share Of
the work. There are three times as
many meals as bed makings in a day.
A gasoline engine furnishes the power
for my washing machine and wringer,
but the girls help with the ironing and
mending:
OF course, it is often easier to do the
work ourselves than to give the time and
effort necessary to show someone else
how to do 1t, but "trouble" is scarcely
the word that mothers have right to
use in connection with the training their
daughters have right to expect. More
over, these daughters are going to know
how some day, and every day while they
are learning they are taking greater In
terest in their home. Certain things
and quite good many of them-are q
girls birthright.-Mrs. Fred Nisewanger,
la