WOMEN'S INSTITUTE REPORT. 41 



equipment, to young people, to Women's Institutes, to women farmers, 

 and to various problems of Home Economics. The most notable address 

 was that given by Dr. Liberty Bailey on women's part in the country 

 life movement, although many papers of equal interest were provided. 

 There were several speakers from this Province: Miss Ravenhill, who 

 spoke on foods and care of children; Mrs. Hutchinson, who spoke on 

 Musical Kindergarten; Mrs. Norman, who gave a demonstration on the 

 home canning of fruit, vegetables and meat; and Mrs. Watt, who reported 

 on the work of Women's Institutes in Province. 



GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE CONGRESS. 



No one could fail to be impressed with certain general aspects ot 

 these series of meetings. 



RURAL SCHOOLS. The matter of the education of the country 

 boy and girl was made a prominent feature of nearly all the addresses, 

 and evidently was felt to be a movement of the deepest importance to 

 the future farm life of the continent. Speaker after speaker pointed out 

 that in the matter of technical training and teaching for home-makers the 

 country schools were behind the times. It was impossible to avoid the 

 conclusion that Departments of Agriculture and Agricultural Colleges are 

 providing courses in Home Economics, because the Public Schools had 

 failed to recognize, the needs of the children in the country. It was 

 pointed out that unless the country boy and girl were able to receive 

 technical instruction, or instruction in Home Economics in the rural 

 schools, it was hopeless to expect the country school to turn out farmers 

 and home-makers. It was urged with the greatest emphasis that the 

 rural schools needed regeneration, and it was pointed out that this was 

 the plain duty of women's organizations in the country to make over 

 the country school both inside and out, and revise its character until it 

 was in line with modern educational demands. 



In his report, Mr. Putnam, of the Ontario Women's Institute 'Branch, 

 who is undoubtedly a great authority on the work of farm women, made 

 a special point of the Women's Institute work for country schools. He 

 stated numerous examples of cases where the Institute had been able to 

 make a good school from a poor one, and advised further work along 

 these lines. Women teachers from various colleges also spoke on this 

 matter and most unsparingly condemned the inadequate equipment, un- 

 lovely surroundings and insanitary conditions of country schools. They 

 stated that the courses in Home Economics for growing girls had been the 

 greatest feature for good in modern education. Distinction was made 

 between Home Economics and Domestic Science, and it was pointed out 

 that Domestic Science was the lesser term with the meaning generally 

 attached, but that Home Economics included everything pertaining to 

 the home. 



PROGRESS OP FARM WOMEN. The wonderful progress made in 

 mental and social equipment by the farm women was made evident at 

 every session of the Congress, and is the more remarkable as the women 

 who are the present day makers of farm homes are not those who have 

 themselves h,ad the benefit of modern educational methods. They have 



