ALIMENTARY EDUCATION OF CHILDREN — LABBE. 561 



But we believe also that this instruction could be begun earlier, 

 and that our tables, revised and brought up to date with regard to 

 prices, could advantageously be introduced into the schools, where 

 they would serve as a text to be used in instructing the older children 

 in the theoretical and practical rules of nutrition. 



The necessity of introducing nutritional hygiene into the curricu- 

 lum is impressed on all minds. The directors of primary instruc- 

 tion and of secondary instruction show a great interest in the matter. 



In girl's seminaries nearly all the directors have organized courses 

 in nutritional hygiene, associated or not with courses in domestic 

 science and courses in cooking. The program varies with the dif- 

 ferent establishments. The best procedure to accomplish the desired 

 end has not yet been given. We believe that it will be found in a 

 combination of elementary theoretical courses with practical courses 

 in domestic science and cooking, for which a space consisting of a 

 simplified apartment and kitchen should be provided. 



On this question there are found excellent points in a " Program 

 of household and domestic economy instruction," designed for girls 

 from 6 to 12 years old, published by the French Educational League. 

 The ingenious idea put into practice in the St. Denis and d'Auber- 

 villiers schools was the establishment of a " household day " during 

 which the arithmetic lesson bore on questions of housekeeping (ex- 

 penses and economies), the science lesson on questions of hygiene 

 and of the care of children, on the nutritive value of foods, on the 

 composition of bills of fare, the lesson in moral philosophy on the 

 duties of the child in the home; the dictation itself could have for 

 a subject the principles of hygiene or the care of children or cooking 

 recipes. 



Whatever be the program adopted, it is indispensable that the 

 girls of to-morrow, who are launching out more and more into the 

 conquest of independent, administrative, and commercial positions, 

 rilled formerly only by men, shall not forget the management of a 

 home, which, with maternity, is still their fundamental part, their 

 most glorious career in life. 



No longer, as in the time of Moliere, does affectation for " fine 

 writing " among the " precieuses " tend to cause neglect of domestic 

 occupations; it is to obtain the time to pursue serious studies and 

 to fill lucrative professions that many girls of our time lay aside 

 the cares of housekeeping. 



Let us, then, return, if not to boiled beef and broth, at least to 

 savory broiled meat and to succulent roasts, to homemade pastries, 

 to dainty and nourishing side dishes, to preserves and jams, to good 

 recipes which are handed down from mother to daughter. The 

 health of our children, the future of our race, would benefit by it. 



