Fanners' Week in Agricultural College. 309 



the following statements: Appeals to the child's interests; find the 

 point of contract; correlate home and school. This sentiment or phi- 

 losophy seems to have found a place in our educational system, and 

 home economics is one study that will do much to bring about this de- 

 sired change in pedagogical movements. The subject will appeal to 

 the girl's interest. It will begin with the things that she knows, will 

 interest her in these things and lead her on to further investigation along 

 these lines. It is one study peculiarly adapted to bring about a closer 

 relation between home and school. But let it be distinctly understood 

 that it is not the aim of home economics to teach some of the higher, 

 more delicate things of home life, such as making Battenburg lace, trim- 

 ming hats, and preparing some of the dainty pastries, it should deal 

 rather with things that are more fundamental, more permanent, more 

 practical. 



Much complaint has been made by both teachers and parents that 

 a great deal of the subject matter now taught in the schools is dry and 

 dead and meaningless. This may be over emphasized; however, there 

 is some truth in the statement. The time has come for teachers to make 

 a wise discrimination, a wise selection of the subject matter to be pre- 

 sented, and by doing this, much that is not in harmony with the child's 

 environment will be eliminated. 



Home economics will substitute in place of this dry subject matter, 

 something of deeper and more vital importance. It will deal with the 

 concrete, with the familiar, with things that can be seen and handled 

 and understood, things that correlate with and influence every day life. 



Pupils are familiar, in a general way, with clothing, but very few 

 know the nature of the fabrics from which clothing is made, and why 

 one kind of cloth is better adapted for a special use than another. The 

 same may be said in regard to food. Doubtless very few people could 

 give a definition for good bread, or what is necessary to make milk pure 

 and wholesome. The subject of heating and ventilating is one of vital 

 importance to the school children of ]\Iissouri at the present time. Any- 

 one who has visited the crowded school rooms and . has noticed the 

 poisonous air, the lack of any means of ventilating, the restless, nervous 

 condition of so many of the pupils, the nervous tension of the teacher, 

 will agree that something should be done at once to remedy these con- 

 ditions. This subject, it might be claimed, belongs properly to hygiene, 

 but it must be remembered that much of hygiene will be included in 

 the course of Elementary Home Economics when it is pnce properly 

 arranged. 



It may be asked what are some of the things being done at the 



