Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-05-25
Id Advocacy OF A Home Economics
Deinonstrator.

"
Report on Home Economics delivered by
Mrs. James H. Jones at the annual meet
ing of the Federation of Women's Clubs at
Jacksonville May 18th, 1917:
1t would make my report too lengthy to
60 into details of my arduous efforts in
behalf of Home Economics it suffices to
say, have been before the School Board,
before the County Commissioners and used
all the outside influence could bring to
bear upon our Commissioners, and yet |
have not been able to convince them of
our urgent need of demonstration in Home
Economics. am not a srffragette, but it
does seem we will be forced to the ballot
in order to have justice shown us. Why
should women practically have to get upon
their knees to men in their effort to improve
conditions for women and children in their
community 7 Many of our women are LARGE
taxpayers in this county yet they have not
the privilege of saying how that tax money
is to be invested; and when they ask for
the small sum of seven hundred and fifty
dollars to pay our half (the Federal gov
eminent pays the other half) for demon
strator to teach us and our girls Home
Economics, thereby to make us better
housewives. we are refused III
But the men have farm demonstrator
Gas they rightly should, for the poor old
farmer has been showed in the background
as long as it is practical to do SOY. but the
farmers wife and daughter should reap
some advantage from the tax funds for
where is the successful farmer whose wife
or daughter has not been his main helper 7
do not want to feel there is man in
Montgomery county 80 narrow-minded that
he is not willing to share his advantages
with his wife and daughters. frequently
hear these arguments advanced: Let
! them learn at home" experience is the
best teacher" All, how cruel and what
a vital mistake. But even accept this
theory, would 1t be economicalS Most
assuredly no | You cannot learn anything
without teacher or experience; so il we
cannot get the teacher. we must struggle
with sad experience. This waste of food
that must so often be dumped into the
grabage can or cause indigestion, which
eventually means a doctors BILL is not
economy
Do you realize that the tax levy on $3.50
is only the smallest fraction of a cent on
the dollar and that just one failure In the
housewives bread making would pay that
taxi Just think of such small request
being denied for the education of women.
who are forced to be the universal cook,
be it wife, daughter. sister or neeress-it
must be woman, and every man is de-
! pendent upon woman for their daily food
and yet they are not willing to appropriate
that fractional part of a cent to have her
trained in her vocation that she may be a
credit to herself and thereby enable her
to start the next generation on the road
of universal training in the domestic home
and in economy.
Home Economics is to teach women Of
all ages and girls from ten years up. in
school or out of school, the most economi-
cal methods of cooking. poultry raising.
tilling the soil. the best fertilizers adapted
to certain soil for vegetables, fruits. etc.
We are taught to preserve. can, jelly and
save every product Of the farm in such a
way that when there is more than is con-
sumed by the family it can be stamped
with the Home Economic label and put
upon the market where it finds ready sale,
thus leaving nothing on the farm to waste
and thereby enabling many poor girl
to make her spending money. which other
wise the father would have to furnish.
am deeply impressed with the impor-
lance of Home Economics being taught in
girl who is only able to attend the seventh
grade school, from which she launches
upon an aimless life Of idleness for the
want Of knowledge of how or what to do.
With the aid of a demonstration in Home
Economics to guide her and continue her
limited education from the seventh grade
to proficient housewife, lifted to higher
plane by the intercourse with others who
are all striving for the same goal, she is
taught the great need of industry and soon
feels the spirit by aspiring to something
better than she has known she takes more
interest in her personal appearance, her
home, her table. her cooking, and her gar
den-we would soon realize the great uplift
Of this county.
In the name of charity for women, can
the men of Montgomery county be so selfish
and uncharitable as to deny women this
great advantage at such small COST Can
it be they have no charity, no patriotism,
no answer to the great call of our Presi-
dent when he asks for aid from every man,
woman and child in the United States by
unitingin one strong army of food conserva
ton? And our Governor Of Maryland has
appealed to the women Of this State and
appointed his workers directly along the
line of Home Economics. His method 10
to form clubs or bodies Of women in every
section of the State through which we are
to train and stimulate and encourage
women in the methods of intense cultiva-
ton Of our soil. and methods of saving our
foods, and economizing in all ways posi-
ble 1t does not mean that we are to 90
without sufficient food or adequate clothing.
1t simply means we must produce more.
for instance. every man. woman or child
that raises bushel Of potatoes Tor any
other food stuff more than he raised last
year (even if he eats ii HIMSELF produces
Just that much toward feeding some SOL
der who is fighting for our freedom in front
of merciess guns. And shall not we who
are safe beyond those appalling sights Of
war be willing to work and till the soil to
furnish them sufficient food, or shall we