INTRODUCTION TO HOME ECONOMICS LITERACY

MODULE I

Introduction
Home Economics is a very wide subject which is not only taught at schools but is
practiced at home and at work. Home Economics originated early in the 20th century as
a way for women to learn homemaking and career skills in areas such as education and
the restaurant industry. Over time, the field changed to reflect societal interests and
priorities. This could have been important throughout the history because it gave
women the opportunity to pursue higher education and vocational training. In the
modern times, home economics teaches both men and women important life skills.
Home Economics courses are offered internationally and across multiple educational
levels. Taking courses in Home Economics at school allow students to acquire the
necessary decision making, social and communicative skills which are important for
occupational success. Being a viable career opportunity, people who choose to study
home economics can find a job virtually in any field.

Home Economics - as defined is the science and the art of homemaking which
includes nutrition, clothing, entrepreneurship, and child care. This is a school subject
that helps students in dealing with how to run a house well and efficiently. This is being
taught since most people are likely to have and will build families of their own.

Lesson 1: Definitions of Home Economics

 Is the study of home making deals with subjects connected with daily activities of
the home makers such as food, clothing, shelter, finance, health, child care,
home beautification, community service, etc.
 It is a field of education which concerns itself with management and economics
of the community and home.
 It is the theory and practice of homemaking.
 Is a field of study that deals with the relationship between individuals, families,
communities and the environment in which they live.
 The art and science of home management.
 A college curriculum usually including studies in nutrition, the purchase,
preparation, and service of food, interior design, clothing and textiles, child
development, family relationships and household economics.
 Cooking and other aspects of household management, especially as taught at
school.

Lesson 2: Scope of Home Economics

1. Cooking. Home economics lessons teach children and young people what to do in
the kitchen: from setting the table to baking cookies and cakes. In home economics,
kids can learn about the food’s nutrition value, the proper rules of etiquette and ways of
handling kitchen equipment.

2. Child rearing. Back in the day, young girls were taught how to raise children from
birth to early adolescence. Today, child development has developed into a separate
field, but the basics are still taught in home economics.

3.) Community awareness and education. This branch of home economics provides
the basic knowledge on how to live in a community. Additionally, students can learn
about morality and ethics in these lessons.

4.) Design and home management. In these lessons, young people receive lessons
on interior and exterior design, as well as learn how to take care of their homes (i.e. how
to clean and organize).

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5.) Textiles and sewing. Home economics teaches kids how to embroider, sew,
crochet, and do all kinds of things with different kinds of threads and fabrics. Young
people can learn how to make their own clothes, elements of décor or accessories.

6.) Economics and budgeting. As one of the most essential elements of home
economics, these lessons are meant to teach children how to spend money wisely and
how to get the best out of their financial situation. It is one of the most important things
that can be used later in life.

7.) Hygiene and health. These lessons are supposed to teach young kids how to take
care of their own hygiene and health, as well as how to care for their sick relatives. This
branch is rarely in use, but you can still find the remnants of it in some home economics
programs.

Importance of Home Economics

[Link] Economics helps people to improve the quality of their lives. This is very
important since we all know that the basic structure of the society is the family. This unit
helps a person and shapes a person personality, perspective and view of life. A very
healthy child care is essential for children must see life as a valuable thing for them to
take good care of it.

2. Home economics has a very significant role in nation building. The health of a
family is fundamental to the growth and development of any society. With this, Home
economics vital part is to raise the level of living and improve the quality of life of an
individual and of a family. I believe as a teacher, that students must learn Home
Economics so they will be able to develop their mindset on the standards of their living.
They will be aware of the things they must and must not do in order to have a healthy
and harmonious family status.

3. Promoting a well- being of an individual that’s – Home economics. This subject

helps the society to develop human progress for it comprises major ideas on food,
clothing, home and family. Human progress is necessary for the society to grow. It is so
important since well-being vibrant all aspect of human experience. Most importantly,
home economics teaches the students to do practical work. Home economics is
considered as one of the most and highly appreciated addition to the secondary
curriculum

4. Home economics teaches students practical skills for daily living. It gives students a
lot of time to do practical work and to prepare them for their future. In the process of
transitioning from childhood to adulthood, high school students need training in
practices such as nutrition, financial responsibility, home management and child
development so they can lead safe and productive lives. These are just few of the
million reasons why home economics is important and thus must be taught at school.

Contributions of Home Economics to Society

The contribution that Home economics to the society will be designed as successful
living opportunity for both girls and boys. With this, students will be and come prepared
to meet the demands of the world.

Contributions of Home Economics to Society

Lessons on safety. Kids can learn how to prevent and deal with dangerous situations
at home.

Learning proper nutrition. Home economics teach children the importance of proper
nutrition. In the cooking lessons, teachers give information on the nutritious qualities of
the food and implement topics of healthy eating habits in their lessons.

Useful life skills. While other subjects focus on theory and things that most of us will
never use, home economics give useful tips on how to deal with everyday things.

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 Living in a community. In school home economics, they can learn how to coexist with
other people and to share responsibilities with them.

Knowing how to be a good parent. One can always use this knowledge on how to
deal with children, take care of younger siblings, friends’ children, or work in the child
care sector.

Lesson 4: Purpose of Home Economics

Home economics, now known as family and consumer sciences (FCS), is the
profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the
home and community. The field deals with the relationship between individual, families,
and communities, and the environment in which they live. As a subject of study, FCS is
taught in secondary schools, colleges and universities, vocational schools, and in adult
education center.

The Aims of Home Economics as Academic Profession

To prepare students for homemaking or professional careers, or to assist in

preparing to fulfill real life responsibilities at home. As an academic profession, it
includes educators in the field and human services professionals.
To represent many disciplines including consumer science, nutrition, food preparation,
parenting, early childhood education, family economics, human development, interior
design, textiles, apparel design, as well as other related areas.

To expose students to varied activities that develop in them the skills of

organization and systematic planning, the value of creativity, resourcefulness, industry,
the desire for functionality and concern for the environment.

To develop awareness of self-help habits and active participation in decision-

making at home, in school, and in the Community!
To help the students in achieving healthy, wholesome family and community
relationships.

To develop an appreciation of what is truly Filipino by using indigenous materials

in their projects

The Growing Needs of Home Economics

in Developing Society

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PIONEERS IN HOME ECONOMICS

1. CATHARINE ESTHER BEECHER

Champion of Women’s Education
2. ELLEN HENRIETTA SWALLOW RICHARDS
Founder of Home Economics

19th CENTURY

Catharine Esther Beecher

1824 - Hartford Female Seminary.
1831 -The seminary had become one of the premier women’s schools in the United
States.
1837 -In Cincinnati, she founded another women’s school, the Western Female
Institute
1838 -She authored The Moral Instructor for Schools and Families: Containing
Lessons on the Duties of Life (1838),
1842 -A Treatise on Domestic Economy for the Use of Young Ladies at Home and at
School (1842),
It was one of the first books educating about home economics and was called the
first complete guide to housekeeping in America (A Treatise on Domestic Economy,
n.d.). Her book helped give standardized procedures to women in how to conduct the
home.

The Morrill Act of 1862

Propelled domestic science further ahead as land grant colleges sought to

educate farm wives in running their households as their husbands were being educated
in agricultural methods and processes. In the last decades of the nineteenth century,
the land-grant schools, along with a few private institutions, established courses of
instruction in what was generally called “Domestic Science”.

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 Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe

1869 -she helped her elder sister, Catharine, to write The American Woman’s Home.
This book continued Catharine’s focus on domestic economy, including everything from
cooking to child care.

Ellen Richards

She was one of the major figures in the emergence of home economics as a
profession. Through her chemistry research she became an expert in water quality and
would apply scientific principles to domestic situations.
In 1891, she wrote the book titled, “The Chemistry of Cooking and Cleaning: A
Manual for Housekeepers.”
1899 -Home Economics movement was given birth during the Lake Placid, New York
Conference

20th CENTURY

1903: Home Economics in the Macdonald Institute

The Macdonald Institute (MINS) was co-founded by Adelaide Hoodless and Sir
William Macdonald (Macdonald Institute (MINS), n.d.). It opened in 1903 for instruction
of women in the fields of manual training and the domestic sciences and arts
(Macdonald Institute (MINS), n.d). It was the first home economics school in North
America (Macdonald Institute (MINS), n.d).
1909: Founding of the American Home Economics Association
The American Home Economics Association (AHEA) was founded in 1909, Ellen
Richards was the first president of the AHEA and held that position until she retired in
1910 and had this name until it was later changed in 1993 to American Association of
Family and Consumer Sciences (History of Home Economics, n.d.).
MAHE was a great asset in helping create the Canadian Home Economics
Association in 1939. It also helped pave the way for other Canadian provinces and
territories to create their own Home Economic Associations, such as:
- New Brunswick Home Economics Association: 1918
- Alberta Home Economics Association: 1935
- Saskatchewan Home Economics Association: 1969
- British Columbia Home Economics Association: 1975
- Ontario Home Economics Association: 1979
1948: 4 Year Home Economics Degree
The MacDonald Institute (mentioned in 1903) offers a 4-year degree program in
Home Economics The first students graduated in 1952 and by the mid-50’s Guelph’s
MacDonald Institute was the known as the premier home economics school in North
America.
1951: School of Home Economics at UBC
Established under the faculty of Arts and Science. In 1951, the status of the
program changed as it became the School of Home Economics, part of the Faculty of
Arts and Science.
1955: Margaret McCready
Margaret McCready addresses the issue of educating men and boys in home
economics in a review of the MacDonald Institute (Peterat & De Zwart, 1995).
1960-1970: The Pill
With the introduction of the birth control pill in the early ‘60’s women gained more
control of their lives.
1968: Changing Mission of Home Economics
The publication of the Changing Mission of Home Economics. This publication is
significant because after a thorough study the results showed that more attention and
more money needed to be directed to the Home Economics programs.
1975: British Columbia Home Economics Association
The British Columbia Home Economist Association was formed in 1975. Still
functioning today as Teachers of Home Economics Specialty Association (THESA), it
works to provide support, professional development to promoting its areas of studies.
“Our classes don’t just focus on cooking and sewing, but seek to explore deeper global

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and environmental issues, nutrition, biology, chemistry, psychology, economics, and
many other topics” (Teachers of Home Economics). In 1977, it affiliated with the CHEA.
1982: Inclusion
Social education implementation of “inclusion” teachers were challenged with
how to provide for such a diversity of learners including FASD, ADHD, Autism and
spectrum disorder. Home Economics is seen as a subject area that will help students
develop social and communication skills while gaining practical knowledge (Working
with Diverse Learners and School Staff in a Multicultural Society).

In the Philippines

PRE-COLONIAL ERA

Children were provided more on vocational training rather than academics by

their parents and their tribal tutors. They are trained to survive; thus, teaching is more
on practical training.

SPANISH ERA

Focus on promoting Christianity and Imposition of Spanish culture. the education

programs offered were formal education, religious, doctrine and vocational courses.

AMERICAN PERIOD

Education aimed to train Filipinos the democratic way of Life, citizenship, moral
character and vocational education. American methods of instruction were ensured by
bringing in hundreds of American teachers called Thomasites in 1901 Vocational
training in housekeeping and household arts was made an important element of girls’
education in the Philippines.
- Elvessa A. Stewart, an American who taught in the Philippines from 1912 to 1957
JAPANESE PERIOD

The focus of education is Nihonggo language, vocational trainings, agriculture

and health education.

1940’S The Philippine Home Economics Association (PHEA) after having

founded in 1948 by the late Dr. Helena Zoila Tirona Benitez has grown and developed
into a national non-government organization bringing together individuals, institutions,
and organizations in order to improve Home Economics education and its allied
discipline.
`
In 2017, PHEA Pres. Susana V. Guinea with the PHEA Board of Directors
conducted the 69th National Conference and Training (NC and T) in Bohol Tropics
Resort, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines.

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