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