2 BULLETIN 540, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The principles involved in the lessons set forth in this publica- 

 tion are fundamental. However, it has been the purpose of the 

 author to present those which have a direct bearing on southern 

 home life. To secure the best results with this work teachers should 

 make a special effort to adapt the lesson topics to the conditions 

 found in the homes of the pupils. The first and most important step 

 in this direction is for the teacher to make a close study of the com- 

 munity conditions, and so to direct the application of the principles 

 given in the lessons as to meet the needs and to improve upon the 

 conditions. Let the teachers keep in mind that communities as 

 well as sections vary as to. home-making problems and that a thor- 

 ough knowledge of the conditions in each instance is necessary to 

 enable the teachers to render the best service. 



A complete course in home economics would include the following 

 subjects: 1 



1. Food: 



(1) Selection (home-grown and purchased food). 



(2) Preparation. 



(3) Planning and serving of meals. 



2. Shelter: 



(1) House sanitation. 



(2) Planning of house. 



(3) Decoration and furnishing of the house. 



(4) Care of the house 

 2. Clothing: 



(1) Selection. 



(2) Making. 



(3) Keeping in repair. 



(4) Laundry work. 



4. Care and training of children: 



(1) Care of a baby. 



(2) Problems of a young child. 



(3) Amusements for children. 



5. Hygiene and sanitation: 



(1) Definition of health. 



(2) Definition and classification of diseases. 



(3) Means of preserving health. 



6. Home care of the sick. 



7. Household management, including systemization of housework, expenses, 



accounts. 



8. Training for the enjoyment of leisure time. 



Many of the high schools of the South which teach agriculture 

 and home economics are located in the open country and have 

 dormitories for housing the students, which provide opportunities 

 for practical instruction in home economics comparable to those 

 furnished by the school farms for practical instruction in agriculture. 

 Often much of the food material is raised by the boys on the school 

 farm and much of the household work is done by the girls, thus 



1 See Syllabus of Home Economics, American Home Economics Association, Baltimore, Md. 



