The Washington times., 1937-04-23
Three u. s. ErnplOye Bills To Senate Floor
Schools Home Economics Unit
Pl2Oted by One W0mAn 50 Years
Near 10, Emma Jacobs
Attributes Vigor to
Good Food

Fifty years ago this month q
slim girl of 10 attending the
Teachers Normal School was
asked to organize a home eco
Monies department for the District
public schools.
True. Emma Jacobs still had
two more years before graduation
and home economics wasn't in her
curriculum. but she was taking
care Of three younger sisters and
Superintendent of Schools w. B.
Powell decided If she could run
her own home she could teach
others how. So, in the year Of
1887 the first cooking class was
organized.
Located in one Of the elementary
school buildings at $40 o st. N. W.,
the new department began to
function. The first week is
classes, comprised of % students
to a class, learned the fundamen.
tails of cooking at the one coal
stove provided. And because they
had few pots and pans, and there
was just a single large kitchen
table and a few chairs, half the
class looked on while the other
half baked, broiled and roasted.
New School Demanded
Then Northeast Washington de-
manded a cooking school. The
only available space was an empty
fire engine house at Sixth and B
Streets Northeast. Undaunted,
school officials equipped it and
installed Miss Hattie Sloat, who
later became Mrs. Wilbur Nash.
Things went along like this for
three years. Miss Jacobs, who
had started at $40 a month, was
now getting $60-a truly magnifi-
cent sum for q 22.year-old girl.
Then Miss Jacobs and Miss
Sloat, who comprised the entire
teaching and executive staff OF
the department of home economics
found their project doomed to
oblivion due to lack of classroom
space.
Followed two heart-breaking
years while they tried to get
quarters in the crowded schools.
However, with the opening of the
new Mckinley High School, tl4ey
were given a properlyequipped
classroom with individual gas
stoves and tables for each pupil.
For the next IS years the home
economics department remained
part of the elementary schools,
but with the opening Of The junior
high schools the department was
transferred to the higher grades
and even to some of the senior
high schools. Today, all Junior
high schools in the District and
nine senior high schools have q
home economics course. Miss
Jacobs is director Of the entire
department.
Divided Into Units
The course is divided into units
such as cooking, sewing, home
management, child development
and home nursery. Approximately
1000 girl students in the District
are enrolled in the classes, Miss
Jacobs said.
The Dennison Vocational School
was one of Miss Jacobs own de-
VelopmentS. To her must go almost
all the credit for the development
of the present system of feeding
tubercular and crippled children
and the serving of hot lunches to
undernouriShed children.
Nearing 70, this sweet-faced,
white-haired woman with the vigo-
rous step and bright eye, practices
what she breaches. She has beau
tiful teeth and a clear, healthy
complexion. She believes that good
food properly cooked and a well
run home are the fundamentals of
health and happiness. She owns
her own home in Virginia and
spends much Of her time out OF
doors in her rose garden.