Home Economics at New York State College of Agriculture 1475 



things when cultural training had become so compelling. Industrial 

 conditions had changed so that skill in household affairs did not equip 

 the well-educated woman to earn a living in a manner that had the sanction 

 of society. The home no longer offered professional opportunities and 

 women had ceased to be considered of great economic importance. Yet 

 to earn a living was still the human problem. As a result, the well-educated 

 woman of yesterday, justifying her economic existence by her skill in 

 performing household tasks, was supplanted by the modern woman versed 

 in cultural subjects only. She earned her living by teaching, the only 

 profession for which the college or school especially fitted her. 



But the hour has struck when culture and skill are no longer regarded 

 as incompatible, detached ideals in education, one the antithesis of the 

 other. We have awakened to a realization that when science and art 

 are applied they lose nothing in cultural value and gain much in human 

 interest. Important tasks that have been stigmatized as menial have 

 thus been lifted to a high cultural plane. New vocations and professions 

 are being developed through this type of education, and woman is begin- 

 ning to find her field of professional opportunity greatly enlarged. Fate 

 has here played one of her ironic tricks, and the woman of to-day in search 

 of a profession may find herself engaged in the old household tasks which 

 have merely been given a different name and a new setting. Once these 

 tasks were dull ; but now, through the glory that applied science and art 

 sheds about them, they have been reclaimed from a menial position. 



The purpose of home economics is to develop and redirect woman's 

 work, to train her for what may now be regardsd as the profession of 

 home-making, and at the same time to give full consideration to her 

 probable need of earning a living. That purpose is accomplished through 

 a broad general training in all home economics subjects, with specialization 

 in one. Although many of its possibilities are still in the speculative 

 stage, the present development of home economics is such as to afford 

 a variety of professional opportunities: 



1 . Teaching. — The teaching of home economics subjects is, and prob- 

 ably will always be, the profession chosen by the larger number of graduates 

 in home economics. A broad field of specialization is open to them, and 

 since more difficult and systematic training is required of specialists 

 their financial rewards are usually greater. At present the demand for 

 teachers of home economics is greater than the supply. 



2. Institutional management. — The woman who has executive ability 

 may enter the newly opened field of institutional management. The 

 capable, well-trained woman may find a large opportunity for success 

 as a dietitian in a hospital, sanitarium, or public institution, or as pur- 

 veyor, steward, manager, or matron of a dormitory, hospital, or hotel. 



