The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-09-07
HOME ECONOMICS
STUDY ESSENTIAL
Every Woman Now Needs Work
Ing knowledge Of Subject,
Says Uncle Sam.
SCHOOLS URGED 70 ASSIST
Asked to Extend Scope Of Their Reou-
lar Glasses and Provide Exten-
sIon Service for Those
Living In Cities.

Colleges, universities and normal
schools Of the country have an oppor-
tunity to render the nation big serv-
Ice by instructing the women Of the
country In home economics, In the
opinion Of experts in Uncle Sans bu-
reau Of education. Suggestions for
carrying forward this work are made
in the following statement, issued by
the bureau:
There are at present unusual oppor-
tunities for service by home economics
departments and by all women who
have received or are now receiving
home economics instruction. Now, as
never before, every woman needs
working knowledge Of home economics,
hence food classes In home economics
should be opened to all woman stu
dents. Enrolment in these will neces-
state concessions and adjustments by
other departments in the institutions.
In these food classes-which probably
should be lecture rather than labora-
tory classes-special attention should
be given to diet requirements for main
tenance of health and efficiency; meth
DDS Of eliminating all waste from the
household, and more intelligent use Of
the more abundant foods for those
which are either scarce or of better
keeping qualities.
Inevitably there will be need during
all Of the next few years Of soup kit
chens, free school lunches and other
forms of community feeding. A few
weeks or months of Intensive study of
the special problems connected with
handling larger quantities Of food will
prepare a number Of women already
trained in dletetics for this work. Sum-
mer schools may well offer such
courses, and grant advanced credits IL
this seems desirable.
Extension Service for Women.
Extension service for women living
In cities is as much needed as is the
work now being done by the agricultu-
raj department for the wives Of farm
ers. Workers for this service should
be prepared by the institutions for
higher education. These women need
to be well trained In economics and 80
eiology as well as in home economics,
and should be urged to volunteer for
this extension type Of work.
Extra classes, giving several hours
daily to practical instruction in the
home care of the sick, should be or
ganized for all woman students, and
the most recent knowledge concerning
the care Of infants and children
should be available to them. This is Of
especial Importance for various rea-
sons. If war comes upon American
territory, the well-trained graduate
nurse will be called to war hospitals,
and the ordinary nursing Of home sick
ness will devolve upon home women.
In addition to this duty will be the
care of returned convalescent wound
ed. If large numbers of the strong and
sturdy men are to give their lives for
our nation, then the conservation Of
child life and health assumes aspects
of such great Importance that every
woman should be required to obtain an
adequate knowledge of child care.
Work for Summer Schools.
Normal schools, colleges and uni
versities can, during their summer
schools, train women to instruct In
Red Cross sewing, in order that the
public-school sewing of next year may
be most effectively executed. In addi-
ton to this courses designed to pre-.
pare teachers to instruct in the re-
modelling of garments will be timely.
zone Of the great services women
can render is in the saving Of the ma
tons supply of food and clothing. Spe
cial short courses in the study Of the
condition of national supply of house
hold material, needed economics, anf
the soclologic and economic effect Of
women's activities should be offered
"If the demands of this type of serv
ice were to be but temporary, specia
consideration would not be so neces
sary; but under the most favorable
termination of actual warfare, the neet
of conservation Of health, of great foot
economies, Of sympathetic service t,
the sick and to those in poverty will
continue to demand consideration"
ro Iior Atpcl rec TEL cDuoMN