Evening star., 1936-11-07
When Books
|Monopolize
Entire Time
Other Essentials Are
Very Often Ne
elected.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

i 0oK education without other es-
sential experiences makes chill
dren onesided, makes it difficult for
them to adjust themselves to the de-
mands of everyday living. Some time
must be left in the day-after, before
and in between school duties-foi
these essentials of education. I an
thinking particularly about the girls
in high schools.
All girls, as we'll as all boys, should
have as complete an education as they
can take, so high school and college
should be open to them. But along
with these opportunities should be
these others. equally as important
Girls are going to be women and live
womanly lives. Most of them are going
to head homes, rear children, use the
money that maintains the home. Fol
this they must have experiences thai
educate them in this field. Girls dc
not become good wives, fine mothers
good housekeepers, overnight. Do
mestic life is an art in itself and is
long in the making.
The courses of study, the required
amount of work often are set without
regard to these essentials. The girls
have almost no time left for learning
the ways of the household. for prac-
ticing skills in household arts like
cooking, cleaning and sewing. Home
work takes up all the time that Is
spent at home. The girls are tired
when they get home and after short
rest they must set to work, for bed
times comes early for them. Even
sleep Is cut down to accommodate
some school programs.
This Is not the report of the dull
children, the slow or misplaced stu
dents. Usually it Is the story oi
the earnest, intelligent student
who wants to maintain high
standing. That students entire wax
ing time Is devoted to school and
school interests. OF necessity the stu
dent. especially the girl student. be-
comes onesided. gives first importance
to books, to rules that are set in the
books. If it is not in the book 1t Is
not 50.
Now there is a wisdom. an art. that
cannot be bound up in book. II
transcends all books, for it is the ex-
preston Of deep-seated tastes. emo
tions and desires. It springs from
human hungers for home. beauty
service to loved people and things
This art Of living Is fostered by the
women Of the race. They make the
homes, the children that carry the
homes, the infinite variety Of activi'
ties that keep home the living. lovely
ideal that Is in the hearts Of men and
women the world over.
It Is highly important then thai
girls have the time, the leisure tf
study and practice homemaking
Every girl ought to know how to rur
q house in all its departments. Every
girl should have the chance to learr
how to make home the ideal place Il
ought to be, not by the book, but BY
actual work in the house and the
home. Books will help, but the worf
of the actual situation is what teaches
I would not leave the boys out. fol
they have an equal share in home
building and housekeeping. They meet
to know how to do all that Is neces'
sary to be done in q home so thai
they can help in emergency and wha
is quite as important, appreciate wha
Is done by the partner in their homes
Homework lessons that eat all tht
hours of q child's day is overdone ant
very wasteful Of precious essentials
Rich living demands rich experiences
(copyrfght. 1850