The Washington times., 1915-11-09


nj to us recently foilowins an ar
ticle explaining how a trained
= servants day was arranged. the
work standardized. and she given extra
Day for extra work. But where arc
Of the letters. Where can We turn TO
md houseworkers trained In efncient
methods OF wo.k, maj ketinS, and all
branches of housekeeping:
Tho training school for nome workers
has been imagined and projected In
some way for a long time. But none OF
these ahortive efforts have taken The
place OF the real need Of training
course for houseworkeis. just as there
u q training course for nurses. Or a
ness employees. Most houseworkers
unless they had exceptional training
in the old country. pick up ar their
from experience, and at the expense
Of their various mistresses.
The course We have In mind is Tor
workers who have never before received
instruction. but who wish to make n
business and q profession Of houscwork.
There II more demand today than ever
Before for the girl or woman who can
manage q fomc efficiently and at low
expense. More and more women are
constantly prcferring to follow the trail
Of = career and yet do not wish to en-.
need unusually reliable and competent
homeworkers TO take charge In their
absence, But the number O. such
trained workers Is remarkably few.
For Service Bureau.
We are, on thc one hand. giving
supsr-training In domestic science and
home economics TO girls who intend
only to teach II when they leave school
We are giving fine opportunity to the
mistresses themselves who wish to be-
come more proncient In their depart
ments Of marketing and buying. But
the most important figure In domestic
oconomy-the houseworker herself-is
picked up haphaxard. receives training
from one mistress and untraining from
another. IL without any certificate. any
genuine recommendation. and who Ia
not asked to pass any examinations or
qualify in any way.
Yet this same houseworker is taken
into our home. intrusted with the cook
tnR, often with the marketing. with
the sanitary care Of the home. with
our clothes. our china. our silver. our
children, and our own happiness and
health. What does this houseworker
know really Of dietetic values. OF cook :
inG methods which most preserve food
and health. OF management which en-
aIbles economy and good standards to
bs maintained?
Why not large centers or training
schools for servants where the serv-
ants could sleep. or. at least. stay. while
cut OF position. modelled somewhat
after the plan of the Y. W. c. AS?
There the workers. could receive courses
in all necessary branches or home
making for minimum sum. There
could be true service bureau which
could arrange to furnish expert help
By the day. hour. or for permanent
positions. Let a genuine board pass
on the qualifications of the girl and
attempt to secure for her positions OF
preferment.
An Examining Board.
As at present organized. nothing Ia
more wrong In It's effect than the sys-
tenn of employment bureaus. No real
inquiry is made into girls record, and
the only thing asked for or given Is a
reference" which may be forged. or
which very few mistresses refuse. even
when the worker does not deserve a
good recommended on. The employment
bureau takes a fee from both mistress
and worker. and II II naturally to the;r
interest to have a girl change posi-
ton frequently In order 10 get more
fees. Long standing In one position Is.
therefore. something not encouraged
by the average employment agency. for
the more frequently a girl or mistress
changes the more i means In money to
them.
n A graduate nurse can b~ examined