DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 81 



wliich were served. Numerous girls liave spokeu of tlie fact that they 

 had learned to eat and like vegetables and salads which, when they came 

 to the Commons, they Avould not touch. Undoubtedly, one of the outstand- 

 ing achievements of the Commons has been that it has actnalh' made the 

 students see that their food theories and food habits function in their 

 lives. 



The menus served in the Commons have been studied by the classes in 

 dietetics and criticized by students and professor for dietetic correctness, 

 insuring this means of further educating the student to their value. 



In the food classes, the girls recorded a two weeks' dietary of their 

 own consumption. About half of these girls ate in the Commons and half 

 outside. In every case, the girls eating at the Commons showed better 

 chosen, higher caloried, and more satisfactory dietaries than the girls 

 who ate outside. 



The Commons management has maintained during the entire year the 

 friendliest relationship with all its employees. Our endeavor has been to 

 paj' good wages to our help, believing that help so paid will co-operate in 

 improving conditions. The fact tlmt all of the student help have asked 

 to return and that the regular staff has been practically the same through 

 the whole year, demonstrates the value of such principles. 



The results obtained financially prove the value of a trained manage- 

 ment. 11905.00 has been spent in new equipment (for items see detailed 

 report appended) ; 1-3300.00 is on deposit to the savings account of the 

 Woman's Commons (account with J. Schepers, Treasurer, M. A. C.) and 

 an inventory of supplies on hand at tlie close of the college year (June 

 23rd) of 11835.13. This, in view of the fact that the average rate of board 

 was 14.70 per week, the lowest rate quoted 'by any state institution of 

 equal rank to M, A. C, illustrates Avhat proper institutional management 

 can accomplish with sufficient authority to insure the proper distribu- 

 tion of the funds. 



The fact that the Commons has, as all good isound business organiza- 

 tions must have, a considerable fund at the end of the year is to its credit 

 and an index of its real success. If the Commons continues from year to 

 year, the desirability and necessity of having this reserve fund would be 

 apparent to all familiar with sound business principles. 



Home Economics Education: The methods of teaching Home Econom- 

 ies given as a part of the preparation for the teacher training has been 

 broadened and strengthened in content. The practice teaching has been 

 conducted in the East Lansing High School and Haslett Consolidated 

 School. Opportunity for teaching Foods and Clothing in the 7th and 8th 

 grades was made possible and these classes met five times a week instead 

 of three, as formerly. Each student taught a minimum of thirty lessons, 

 half in foods and half in clothing. 



NEW WORK UNDERTAKEN. 



A number of courses which became a part of the curriculum when the 

 revised course of study was approved by the general faculty and author- 

 ized by the State Board, have offered opportunity for valuable training 

 to the student in field work and to the College for co-operation with a num- 

 ber of institutions and organizations with which it is fundamentally 

 allied. 



