The Oglala light. [volume], March 01, 1917, Image 8

About The Oglala light. [volume] ([Pine Ridge, S.D.]) 190?-19??

Image provided by: South Dakota State Historical Society – State Archives

                
Home Economics in Reservation
Schools:
KATHLEEN W TULLY,
Teacher of Housekeeping.
HERE are some feminine vanities that are really
legitimate. It is always permissible for a mother
to think her child the most perfect being on earth
and for a teacher to regard her special subject as
the only one really worthwhile. On this ground,
then, may be justified any under enthusiasm that
I may show for home economics.
A sort of armed trace exists, I am told, in many
schools, between the academic and industrial de
partment, the point at issue being their relative
importance in the geneal scheme and, while realiz­
ing this and wishing to be as tactful as possible in expressing myself,
I still insist moisstly up an claiming for home economics the position
of prime inportance in the curriculum for Indian girls.
In the first place, "education is a preparation for living" and
as the great majority of Indian girls go into homes of their own soon
after leaving school it is evident that their school course should
£ve them a thorough training in all branches of housekeeping.
One of the favorite arguments against the teaching of home eco
nomics in school is that the subject is one which belongs to the home
and should be taught by the mother. This, fortunately, cannot be
urged for Indian pupils for in many cases the mothers are totally
ignorant of even the ordinary laws of hygiene and sanitation or else
they do not apply them to housekeeping. Large families are crowd
ed together in one-room huts which afford no means for ventilation
and are absolutely impossible to keep elean. To these living con
ditions are due the spread of tuberculosis, trachoma and other conta
gions diseases, and also, in large measure, the great infant mortality
on reservations.
Moreover, the food cooked is anything but nutritious and little
attention is given to its preparation.
Girls brought up under sucn conditions naturally can learn
nothing of housekeeping or cookery from their mother so it is plainly
the duty of the school to show them the way and by thoroughly em
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