The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-11-27
Department TEACHES
GIRL TO EARN LIVING
University Home Economics
Courses Open Careers to
Women Students.

es at hand is one of the principles of
Home Economics. This could not be
more clearly illustrated than 1t is In
the two small shacks which house
the 80 courses given to our SOC stu
dents by the rapidly growing Depart
ment of Home Economics at the Uni
versity Of Washington. The shacks
have been divided, rearranged and
made over each year in attempts to
meet the increasing needs. Every
available inch of space in the buildings
is used for students at work In labo-
ratory or at lecture, to store supplies
used in the study Of cooking and sew
ing besides the larger equipment OF
kettles and pans, too large for the
separate desks of the students. The
ingenuity shown in storing supplies
teaches the students lessons in meet
ing press of circumstances at hand.
Where space does not allow swinging
doors, the cupboards have sliding
doors. Cabinets are built along the
sides of the rooms to satisfy the great
need of store room, but this 10 done
at the sacrifice of space badly needed
for seating classes. Careful planning
day to give the students the greatest
comfort possible in the old shacks;
classes are busy from a. m. until
5 p. m. and some until p. m. cooking,
sewing, working in the laundry, test
ing textiles, dyeing fabrics, planning
home decoration and furnishings, stu
dying feeding of families and larger
groups or the care of children and
the sick in the home; doing practical
work hand In hand with the aprli-
cation of science and theory. All this
goes on in the little shack not only
days in the week but also on Sat
urdays.
1t Is surprising In view of the cramp-
ed quarters at the University and the
resulting inconvenience to the stu
dents in Home Economics, that the
department has had such tremendous
growth. The girls of the state want
to shoulder their responsibility; they
desire to do their share as the home
makers and are eager for the special
training fitting them for women's spe-
cial occupations. Three years ago the
classes in Home Economics at the Uni
versity of Washington enrolled 81;
today there are enrolled All. This Is
an increase of over 500 per cent In
years. Although there are 20 other
departments at the University offer
ing many courses, of the 1000 women
students on the campus 260 are doing
their chief work in this department,
and many more who are specializing
in science, music, languages or his
tory, give some of their time to this
one department. 1t is evident our
girls want training in their own wom-
ans work. There is need for practical
courses to meet actual life. To meet
this demand the University is plan
ming courses to give the greatest
amount of useful training Not only
are there courses for those expecting
to teachin the grades and high schools
of the state, but the greatest en-
phasis is not placed In satisfying the
need of the college girl whose sole
purpose is to teach a few years. 1t
is the aim of the department to give
training needed by every woman,
whether she teaches, goes into bust
ness, manages lunch room, does In
terror decorating becomes dietitioian
in a hospital, or Home director In
some dormitory, or steward In an In
stitution, or buyer in stores of MILL
merry, laces, ready made garments,
dress goods; or becomes a sanitary
inspector, or a pure foods expert, or
any one of the many other positions
which are increasingly evolving for
the women with the Home Economics
training. No other work given by col
lege courses opens up so many lines
of future usefulness. 1t is a prepare
ton that not only increases the pos
sible avenues to a good livelihood, but
1t prominently fits the girl for
splendid wife and motherhood. Unlike
special training along other lines,
there is no long and costly preparation
for the business life that is unused
when the girl marries. The training
in Home Economics opens for the
young woman fields of activity that
make her all the more expert when
she is called upon to use her training
in the home. The department aims
to give preparation for actual life,
whether the girl is to earn her own
livelihood for few or many years,
or to be straishtway the house
maker.
Their college training gives to the
Home Economics woman preparation
for life, whether of breadwinner or
breadmaker. The training fosters love
of home, and gives to the young WON
an a sense of balance of values, =.
of knowledge and soundness OF prac-
tical Judgment necessary for the best
development of the home.
The University can give to these
special lines Of education for women
only the best attention possible I'M
der the limitation Of the cramped
quarters of this department for
women.
The students come into these old
shacks that house the work in Home
Economics with remarkably good
spirit They accept inconvenience
and the necessary discomfort. and
...,d 20 tho WORK of the dav with