The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-12-03
THE IMPORTANCE OF DOMESTIC
SCIENCE IN THE SCHOOL.
By Miss Florence Long, Teacher of
Domestic Science and Art,
Oakland High School.

Oakland District Teachers Institute
held on November q, and is published
by request of that body.
The problem of Domestic Science has
always been of great value, but only
within recent years it has been taken
up with our school work. Why? Be
cause people are now beginning to re-
alize its importance to the child and its
close relation to the school studies.
Next, what is Domestic Science?
Domestic Science is systematic know
ledge of all things relating to the house
and the welfare of the household, and
not merely the study of cooking. as
many believe.
There is perhaps no other training
that gives an opportunity for a wider
range of knowledge than Domestic
Science.
l. In teaching Domestic Science and
Domestic Art control is gained over the
body. Pupils soon learn to coordinate
the brain and the hands and have them
work in perfect harmony. This is ac-
complished by the careful, accurate
measurements which must be made in
both cooking and sewing to obtain salts
factory results.
2. Domestic Science teaches accu
racy. In measuring one fourth and one
halt teaspoon of salt or sugar the pupil
must be accurate, in order to have cor
rect results.
3. Personal responsibility is develop
ed. If girl pours boiling water on
yeast, forgets salt and sugar, is lazy in
making her muscles work effectively,
let's the dough stand a length of time
convenient to herself and fails to man
age the temperature of the oven, she
gets her just dues and gets in return
dark, sour, soggY, illshaped loaf of
bread Any girl worth while is put on
her mettle by such an experience. But
if she obeys the laws of nature and fol
lows out all the rules and regulations of
her yeast mixtures, she will produce a
sweet, creamy delicious loaf of bread.
| suppose you are thinking, Very
well, but let the girl cook at home. "
But say. the majority of girls will OF
cook at home. There is a fascination
about doing things in a cooking room
which is lacking in Mother kitchen
4. Domestic Science trains pupils in
habits of order and system. AS every
student is expected to have their desk
IN perfect order. every sauce pan,
spoon, plate and knife must be left in
the same place each time. The pupils
unconsciously learn to put things back
where they found them.
). Neatness and cleanliness develop
in the child. Neat caps for girls to
keep back stray locks in cooking, and a
clean white apron. Clean hands only
can touch food materi ais and new ia
brics, and consequently clean hands and
clean clothes are desired goal. Little
habits of neatness and cleanliness which
are demanded in the cooking and sewing
rooms, as no where else, soon become
fixed habits that will follow the children
through life.
6. Other grade subjects are closely
related to Domestic Science. Cooking
and Arithmetic can be so closely con-
nected that the child will delight in
working out fractions by using recipes
Eoalyincr &c Iooilol
arithmetic as it demands constant use
of fractions, numbers, dollars. cents,
lbs, ozs., qts., and pts. A pupil quick
~ sees a need of mathematics IN cook
ing
l. Cooking makes geography more
interesting. To learn where the vari-
Gus articles of food used in cooking
come from. Cooking and composition
are related. The correct wording of
recipes and methods are a most excel
lent form of composition.
8. Domestic Science develops the
power of observation. After studying
it child will notice things in a home,
which have been discussed in school
room.
8. 1t gives the child who has skillful
fingers chance to show what he can
do. They may average low in History
or Geography but when it comes to CO.
operate BRAN and hands they may be a
shining light. Every child is not the
same and the practical child needs Do
nestle Science as means of expression
and development.
In the study of Physiology the girl
learns about the digestive tract. In
Domestic Science she learns what cods
are suited to the various needs of the
b dy, which is the most essential thing
in cooking. For in order to do good
mental work we should have good phys
ical health and we can only obtain this
through proper food for the nourish-
mert Of the body.
10 1t develops the sense of beauty
and fitness. A High School girl needs
this. She is ready to understand that
elaborate household furnishings, ex-
IRENE fashions of dress and display of