The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-11-25
Home Economics
Instructor Talks
on School Work

MISS NlOld sykes, IlOIfle tCOIlOI1llCS
instructor in the local Junior-Sen-
ior high school, gave a very inter-
esting talk before the Parent-Teach-
ers meeting which was held in the
school auditorium recently. Her
subject was Home Economics in
the School," and the following is
her talk in general.
One school superintendent has
said that Home Economies for the
young people Of today has within it
the greatest single opportunity Of
any phase of instruction to meet the
needs of society in that it teaches
ways and means to become more
successful members of society.
Whether or not you agree with
this statement it will be conceded
that instruction which fits the
youth of today to become better
members of their families and So
ciety will have both present and flu
ture results. s"w
Many years ago detectives in
Home Economics instruction were
to teach the girls how to cook and
tow to sew. During the past sew
eral years the world has undergone
rapid social and economic change.
Homes at one time were both the
producer and the consumer. To-
day they are mainly consumer.
Labor saving devices, improved
building and heating Of homes, the
radio, the automobile, moving pic
lures, clubs and women working
outside the home have brought
about more complicated standards
of living. There is more leisure
time and there are more divorces.
Educators realized that due to all
these changes the old detectives In
Home Economics did not meet the
needs and interests of the girl and
her life. So they formulated new
detectives and introduced new sub
ject matter so that these detectives
could be realized.
The fundamental objective now In
this field of instruction everywhere
is to fit the youth Of today to play
their part in achieving happy and
successful family life
/, In order to realize this objective
such units as Family and Social
Relationship, Child Care and Guild
ance, managing the family income,
wise use of leisure time, developing
ones personality, personal groom
ing clothing selection nutrition and
art related to the home have been
brought into the Home Economics
course Of study.
One day Superintendent Black
brought Mr. and Mrs. Oliver to see
the Home Economics rooms. Mr..
Oliver is the state supervisor Of In
dustrial Vocational Education. He
(, was very much interested in the
books on the bookshelves. Taking
one down he said to MIR. Black, IT
am very pleased to see that you
have SO many Of these books in this
department. / believe 1t is very i'm
portant that every senior high
school girl be given a course Of in
struction in this subject" The name
of the book was The Family and
its Relationship"
The State of Washington has a
state course OF study in Home Eco
Monies. This course of study is is
sued by the state superintendent Of
schools and was compiled under the
supervision of Miss Matte Patter-
son, the state supervisor OF voca-
tional Home Economics education.
Every teacher in this field in the
public schools of the state is sup
posed to give instruction to the girls
taking Home Economics in the SUBJ
/ ject matter therein outlined.
Perhaps most Of you know that
the Home Economics department
here is now part of the vocational
Home Economies set up Of the State
of Washington. This means that
the department has met certain
standards and requirements and
that the federal government will
now meet part Of the expenses in
Cured by the department. The
course Of study and detectives re-
main the same. However, there Il
now additional home work for the
girls taking Home Economics Ill
and Nv and the advanced classes
The men who were back Of the vo-
cational education movement real
lied that only a certain amount OF
instruction and a very limited
amount of experience could be hac
:, in class room. For the girl to de-
velop to her fullest she must have
a much broader experience thar
, she could ever get in the class room
: And so the home project was Gre
ated. This is simply suitable ane
: worthwhile piece Of work done In
the home for which the girl has full
Z responsibility and which she car
ries to completion with the guidance
and cooperation Of her parents ane
teacher.
5 On behalf OF the Home Economics
!. department and the girls in this de-
. partment who will be carrying or
these projects we ask that you par.
. ents give them your full cooperation