“School of Mothercraft Offers New Profession for Women”
By Mrs. C. C. Lewis
The above is the title of an article which recently appeared in the Washington Times. While we are thankful for philanthropic men and women who seek to improve conditions and to uplift humanity, we recognize with regret the cause for such a school as this. In this and other omens we see the home is failing to do its God-given work. It is failing to create in the rising generation a love for the home and the home duties. Miss Mary L. Reed, of New York City, the founder of this new school, was recently in Washington, conferring with the officials of the Bureau of Education. She succeeded in convincing the physicians and educators of the practicability of such a school, and in getting it into successful operation, so says the Times. Miss Reed very fittingly reasoned, if universities can appropriate money to educate men to feed pigs and raise corn, why not establish an institution to train girls to feed and care for children, and properly perform other home-making duties? The following from the Times gives the course of study, and describes more fully the requirements of the school:— “A resident nursery affords the opportunity, a fundamental part of the school, to live with and study children. Girls must be eighteen years old and have a high school course or its equivalent. They spend eight hours in class work, and fifteen hours in doing the things that are taught from books or lectures. They prepare the food for the children, they are told how to entertain them with games and stories, how to walk with them, to talk to them, and to discipline them. “Education about the child, with the home as a background. “Preparation for the profession of the unexpected, which housekeeping is above all else. “Acquisition of skill by doing. “These are epigrams which describe the school. “It is not a school of home economics, because home economics deals specifically with the mechanics of the home. “It is not a modern kindergarten which is formal and artificial, but it goes back to the original Froebel idea of learning directly about the things close to everyday life. “Three women teachers are resident,—the director, a kindergarten assistant, and a school physician. The others are trained instructors and lecturers who come from the outside. The special subjects of study include the following:— “The Family; Its Psychology, Sociology, Ethics. “Physical Care of Infants and Young Children. “Child Hygiene and Physical Development. “Dietetics, Children's Cooking, Laundry, Sewing. “Marketing, Housewifery, Accounts, Management. “Home Care of Sick Children, Emergencies. “Child Psychology and Mental Hygiene. “Principles of Child Training and of the Kindergarten. “Children's Stories, Games, Songs, Handwork, Nature Study.” Not only does Miss Reed provide training for the girls, but she has other courses for busy mothers who did not have the benefits of good home training before these responsibilities were thrust upon them in their own homes. She says: “Girls of today have no opportunity to get any instruction in home problems, because they are away at school until they are graduated, and then they either put in a period at work, if they are poor, or if they do not have to work, society robs them of any chance to become trained in the lore of the mother.” Every Christian woman should seek in her own home to emulate the noble example of Miss Reed, and make her home a real school for home makers. There are many new professions open to women today, but in none of them can she shine brighter, or serve God and humanity better, than in the old profession of home making. Speaking of a home maker, the wise man says: “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”