South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-14
High School Offers
Course IN Wifec~aft
Prepares Girl to Manage
Simple or Elaborate House
hold with Intelligence.

L
tie high school miss. Il think it is the
duty of every physically fit girl to
marry. second or probably this
should be irst-it is nothing less than
crime If she is not competent to
make a good home for her husband"
There is something in those two
sentences worth thinking about. They
were uttered by an enthusiastic stu
dent in the department Of "wifecraft."
established as a special course in the
curriculum of the Wadleigh high
school of New York city, which is in
tended to train girls TO be model
wives.
- Why, certainly we all want to get
married sometime" she replied frank
Is, innOcently unblushing I do.
Enow, and so does every other normal
girl. only the silly girl will tell YOU
that she never expects TO marry. and
they are just the ones TO elope and
make a mess of things before they
are out OF school.
And since we all want to marry.
isn't II our duty to offer something
worth while to the man with whom
we cast our life fortunes? / think
so. We demand of the man that he
earn enough money to support us.
Then why hasn't he the same right
to demand of the girl he marries that
she know enough TO use the money
TO the best advantage, to cook food
properly, to be a good housewife and
TO make his home comfortable for
him. He certainly has that right and
IS foOlishly shOrtsighted if he doesn't
require such qualifications in a girl.
THAT is what this splendid new
course teaches us, and all of us who
are glad Of the opportunity to learn.
We are all serious-minded about the
work, and l am sure that each girl
will dc her utmost to be the most per-
feet model of u 'wife-to-be' at the end
of the fOur-year course"
This course introduced during the
current school year, which is to teach
the science Of Wifecraft, and which
Will turn out correctly trained model
wives" Of the future, is under the d.
rect supervision of a mani Although
this may seem unusual, there is an es-
sentially practical side TO il, To be
fitted as a model wife is a consuma-
ton worth almost any effort to at
tain; but TO be a man-taught model
wife is something even beyond that
What higher recommendation could
q girl offer to her husband than that?
This is said to be the only public
ed states, if not in the world. There
is no reason, however, why the high
schools in every town throughout the
country should not adopt the course
as a regular department in their sys-
tenn of education If all that is ex-
pected of it is accomplished. and
there seems to be no excuse, the
product of the model wife" train
ing classes should make for happier,
more comfortable and better man
aged homes, which eventually would
make for a substantial decrease in
the divorce rate.
AS originally introduced at Wad-
leigh the course is altogether elect
i've. However at the opening of the
course, and before anything more
material than a hypothetical outline
Of the proposition was IN evidence,
more than $50 girls attending that
school promptly applied for the
chance to become model wives. and
took up the studies in this newest
branch Of feminine education with
every evidence of serious intent.
DR.. Stuart II. Rowe, head of the
Wadleigh high school, is in personal
charge of the course. Upon gradua-
ton the model wife" girl will receive
the degree of NJ. H., brand new
degree created especially for her, and
which signifies 'Matron of Home
craft"
Even if a girl should change her
mind" said DR. Rowe, land decide
against marrying after taking this
| course, she would, with her NJ. II. de-
| gree, be thoroughly qualified TO earn
her own living as household manager
| in any of the most exclusive and best
| kent homes in the world.
personally, l do not like the term
| 'housekeeper,' as it might apply TO
any one of our graduates" objected
| the doctor at the suggestion. "She
/ will be far more than hOusekeeper.
She will be equipped to assume the
full responsibilities of general man
ager of the most elaborate domestic
| establishment and TO conduct IL on a
practical supervisory basis, just as en-
| tirelv as does a general manager of
| any commercial business. The course
, that we have prepared here will train
her for precisely that sort of a posi-
! ton. should she elect to take up pro-
fessional service and fOrego the pleas
ure of making some man happy as his
wife"
! According to the statistics which
| DIR. Rowe has just compiled at least
SIS ner cent of the Wadleigh girls
/ marry sooner or later. The remain
ING 81 per cent continue their studies
/ at college or at the training school
for teachers. and subsequently enter
a professional career.
0DGE NOTES