INTRODUCTION

History of Home Economics

Home Economic: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

History OF Home Economics

Home economics stands for ideal home life for today unhampered by the
traditions of the past and the utilization of all the resources of modern science to
improve home life.

Catherine Beecher - One of the first to champion the Economics of running a

home. ➝ Argue for the importance of domestic life and sought to apply scientific
principles to childbearing, cooking and housekeeping. ➝ Treaties on Domestic
Economy for the Use of Young Ladies at Home.

Harriet Beecher Stowe - was an American abolitionist and author. She came from
the Beecher family, a famous religious family, and is best known for her novel
Uncle Tom's Cabin

Catherine and Harriet both were leaders in mid-19th century North America in
talking about domestic science. They came from a very religious family that
valued education especially for women.

The Morill 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.
Lake Placid – which gave birth to the home economics movement in 1889.

Ellen Swallow Richards 1842-1911. Who was the first woman to attend
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later became the first female instructor.
She started Home Economics Movement. She focusses on applying scientific
principles to domestic situations. Late in the 19th century, Richards convened a
group of contemporaries to discuss the essence of domestic science and how the
elements of this discipline would ultimately improve the quality of life for many
individuals and families. A home economics class in 1911 in Toronto. Oekology or
the science of right living. Euthenics, the science of controllable environment
“Home economics" was ultimately chosen as the official term in 1899. Richards
wanted to call this.
A GLIMPSE INTO A MIDCENTURY HOME ECONOMICS CLASS

Beginning in 1899 ➝Richard, along with Melvin Dewey and other educators and
activists, organized a series of annual gatherings that became known as the Lake
Placid Conferences. ➝these educators worked tirelessly to elevate the discipline,
which was to become home economics, to a legitimate profession.

Conference participants formed the American Home Economics Association

(AHEA). This organization effectively lobbied federal and state governments to
provide funding for home economics research and teaching, including adult
education work through agricultural extension services, leading to the rapid
expansion of educational programs. In 1908.

1993 American Home Economics Association was changed to American

Association of Family and Consumer Sciences during Scottsdale Conference in
Scottsdale Arizona.
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 Ann Stewart. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, she went to the
Philippines as a teacher in 1913. Superintendent of Home Economics in the Bureau
of Education in Manila in 1929.

For 20 years, Domestic training had flourished in Filipino Schools starting with
“Sewing, cooking and housekeeping.”

1920. Girls in grade 5 to 7 were required to devote 80 minutes a day to home

economics activities which included:

 Cooking
 Sewing
 Housekeeping
 Sanitation
 Home Nursing
 Infant Care
 Food Selection
 Embroidery
 Lacemaking

During 1941… Every secondary girl was required to have at least one year of home
economics before graduation. Required subjects included nutrition and child care.
Teachers of Intermediate Home Economics were required to be graduates of the
Philippine Normal School or the equivalent, which required 3 years of study beyond
secondary level
Home Economics: Today and tomorrow

Professionals continue to practice in many venues including secondary teaching,

college and university teaching and research and outreach through cooperative
extension programs; K to 12 Program.
UNIT 1: LESSON 1
STATUS OF HOME AND FAMILY: EMPHASIS ON PHILIPPINE
LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO HOME AND FAMILY

These consist of our physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and emotional traits, which
may either be positive or negative. Positive traits include all qualities that help in the
development of a well-rounded individual with a satisfying personal, family, and
community life. The negative traits include all the qualities resulting in the
development of an individual who is liability not only to his family but also to
society.

The family is the basic unit of society. It is the foundation of the society; hence it
plays a major role in nation-building.
What is Family?

The family is a group of persons, composed of the father, mother, and children
united by marriage, blood or adoption, interacting and communicating with each
other in their respective roles, characterized by common residence, economic
cooperation and reproduction.
FUNCTION OF THE FAMILY

Article 209 of the Family Code of the Philippines has spelled out the functions of the
family to include the caring for and rearing of children for civic consciousness and
efficiency, moral, mental, physical character and well-being. Thus, the family is
responsible for the physical, mental, social, emotional, moral and spiritual
development of a child.
Physical Function

The major task of the family even before the child is born is for physical
development. This includes the provision for nutritious food while the child is still in
the womb.
Intellectual Function

The family provides the first opportunities the intellectual development of the
child. It is the home where the child learns the rudiments of communication. The
family provides various activities where the child starts building his concepts of life
that will prepare him for future role in society.
Social function

The family is the basic social institution that prepares the child for her future
role in nation-building. It serves as laboratory where the child learns to get along
with people, assumes responsibilities and taught to cooperate in different activities
of the family.
Emotional Function

Another important role of the family is the emotional development of the

child. The family also provides opportunities for the development of positive
emotions like love and joy. The child learns that love is something that should be felt
not only in words but also in actions.
 Moral Function

The old saying “Values are caught not taught” is very true, especially in
the moral development of the child. A child learns the concept of what is right and
what is wrong through the examples set by the elder members of the family,
especially the parents.
Spiritual Function

The belief in God is first developed in the home. The usual first lesson of
the child is to make the sign of the cross. A mother is very proud of her child when
at a very early age, he can already make the sign of the cross.
TYPE OF FAMILY

The family may be classified in different ways. One way of classifying the family is
through its composition.

A family composed of the basic family members, as the father, mother

and children is called a nuclear family.

If the composition includes other relatives in addition to the basic

family members, it is called extended family. Extended families may vary in its
composition.

In some families, relatives of the father live with the family. This is called
a patrilineal family.

If, on the other hand, it is the relative of the mother who lives with the
family, it is called matrilineal family.

However, if both relatives of the father and mother live with the family,
it is considered as a bilinear family.

A family may also be classified according to its organization. A family

where the authority emanates from the father is called a patriarchal family.

If, on the other hand, the authority emanates from the mother, it is
called a matriarchal family. Today, modern families believe in equal rights
between the father and mother.

This may be due to the prevailing practice of mothers working outside

the home. Since both are helping to support the family, majority practices the
equal division of authority in the family. This type of family is called egalitarian
family.

According to size, a family may be considered a small family if it is composed

of two to four children. The high cost of living has prompted most couples to limit
their children to two to four only.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FAMILY MEMBERS
The Man in the Family

The father’s predominant interest and paramount loyalty is to the

mother.
 He gives the personal and social companionship to the mother.
He is considerate of her feelings and needs.

He tries to understand and assist her with the problems in raising the
family.

He tries to satisfy her needs for sex experience as a good lover and
faithful husband.

As the head of the family, he is jointly responsible for the guidance and
rearing of the children.

He supplies the father image for the sons in the family so that they will
grow and be ready to assume their future roles.

As a homemaker, his role is usually a minor one as far as actual

housekeeping is concerned.

As a provider, he plays a major and role and responsibility regardless of

whether his wife is gainfully employed or not.

While it is true that most Filipino husband prefer their wives jobless,
except in cases of necessity, there is today a much higher percentage of married
women working to help support the family.
The Women in the Family

The mother’s role in the family is almost similar to that of the husband.

She is a companion, who enjoys her physical relationship with the

husband, creating relationship of social friendliness, mutual trust and confidence in
all their relationships,

She is also responsible to give her husband support, encouragement

and sympathy as his mood may demand.
As a mother, she has a more demanding task compared to the father.

She carries the child during pregnancy and is tied down to the routine
of feeding and caring for the child.

Her role demands that she understands children, know how to feed,
care and handle them till they can assume the responsibility of taking care of
themselves.

She should always bear in mind that she has a husband and has
certain obligations as a wife and more importantly children to care for so that they
will be an asset and not a liability to society.

She is responsible for acquiring new knowledge and skills to create a

wholesome and happy home atmosphere.
The Children in the Family

The children’s role in the family is their involvement in all activities

undertaken by the family.

They should cooperate and voluntarily give their best towards the
fulfillment of family goals.
 They should learn to assume their responsibilities according to their age,
sex and abilities.

They should be able to assume responsibilities so that the parents can

enjoy the later part of their lives.

They should be ready to take care of their parents when they are too
old to support themselves.

This makes the Filipinos different from peoples of other countries where
old parents are sent to the home for the aged. This makes the Filipino unique.

The Family Code of the Philippines includes some articles in parental authority
and responsibility. According to the article, this may not be renounced or transferred
except in cases authorized by law. Parental authority shall be jointly exercised by
both father and mother. However, in case of disagreement, the father’s decision
shall prevail, unless there is a judicial order to the contrary. Article 220 of the Family
code of the Philippines enumerated the following rights and duties of parents:

• to keep them in their company, to support, educate and instruct them

by right precept and good example and to provide for their upbringing in keeping
with their means;

• to give them love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship

and understanding;

• To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in them

honestly, integrity, self-discipline, self-reliance, industry and thrift, stimulate their
interest in civic affairs and inspire in them compliance with duties of citizenship;

• To enhance, protect, preserve and maintain their physical and mental

health at all times;

• * To furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials,

supervise their activities, recreation and association with other, protect them from
bad company and prevent them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health,
studies and moral;
• * To represent them in all matters affecting their interest;
• * To demand from them respect and obedience;

• * To impose discipline on them as may be required under the

circumstances; and

• * To perform such other duties as imposed by law upon parents and

guardian.

Parents exercising parental authority shall be civilly liable for the injuries and
damages caused by the acts or mission of their children living in their company and
under their parental authority subject to the appropriate defenses provided by law.

Parental authority and responsibility shall include the caring for and
rearing of children for civic consciousness and efficiency and the development of
their moral, mental and physical character and well-being*

*The Family code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209)

 LESSON 2
THE FILIPINO FAMILY
FAMILY CYCLE

The building of family life begins with the choice of the person you will
marry and continues until the family is dissolved. The cycle can be divided into three
stages, namely: the beginning family, expanding family and the contrasting family.
The different stages tend to overlap, yet they are clear enough to show the changes
and problems peculiar to the demands of each stage.

The first stage in family life is the beginning family. This stage is sometimes
called the period of adjustment. The success in the relationship during this period will
depend on what each one discovers during the engagement period. When
adjustments are made before marriage, the first phase of family life is made easier. It
is, therefore, important that likes and dislikes be discovered during the period of
courtship so that adjustment can be made during the period of engagement. This
will help prevent conflicts during the first years of married life. This period is also
known as the period of establishment.

The second stage in family life is the expanding family. This is called the period
of accumulation. The birth of children necessitates additional expenses in food,
clothing, housing and education. More food is needed since children are still in their
growing years. Failure to provide for the needed food will affect the total growth of
the individual. Mental growth is very crucial at this stage of development of children.
Children, to be intelligent should be given more protein food for the development of
the brain.

The last stage in family life is called contrasting family because this is the
period when children begin to establish their family of procreation. This period is also
known as the period of recovery since children whom have started to work, share or
take over the responsibility in maintaining the family. Since the family income at this
time is high, parents can save and redeem mortgaged properties. This is the period
of launching the matured members of the family, thus expenses in food, clothing
and recreation increase. This is also the period when children become independent
and parents are still young. At this point, they can revive an active interest in
unrealized ambitions. At this period, family income may be limited to pensions.
FAMILY GOALS AND VALUES
Parker gave some values and interest with govern human
conduct:
1. Love which is the interest in relationship with people
expressed as sex love, parental love, friendship, generic
love, community love and ideal love.

2. Health, the interest in physical and mental well-being.

3. Comfort, the interest in making life pleasant and comfortable.
4. Knowledge/Wisdom, the interest in truth.
5. Technological interest, the interest in the efficient making and using things
and in skillful workmanship.
6. Play, the interest in creative imaginative activity.
7. Religion, the interest in goodness and rightness in
verifying all aims and purposes in living.
8. Arts, the interest in beauty in all forms of expression.
9. Ambition, the interest or desire for success in life.

Goal setting is a continuing process. Each family sets its goal at every stage of the
family cycle. A beginning family envisions a harmonious relation of the newly
married couple and establishment of a new home. While expanding family may aim
for the health and education of all children. The contrasting family, on the other
hand, would like a well-established home for all married children. Thus, activities of
the families will be directed towards the realization of these goals.

Family goals differ in many respects from those of other families. However,
there are some long-term goals that seem worthwhile for all families to seek. These
are:
• Good health for all members of the family.
Continuous development of all members of the family
throughout life – physical, mentally, socially and spiritually.
• Satisfying personal, family and community relationship.
• Sufficient resources to provide for all the needs of the family.
• Well-planned housing which meets the needs of the family.
• Individual and family participation in local and national
affairs.
• Management of family resources to ensure the attainment of
the above goals.
CONTEMPORARY FILIPINO FAMILY

The Filipino family has undergone many changes. Some of these changes are
beneficial to family life while others served as hindrance to the development of the
different members.

The changes were brought about by different factors like the high cost of
living which forced mothers to work to supplement in income of the father.

Another factor is the increase in population which brought about the problem
of unemployment.

As a result, fathers are forced to leave the country in order to earn just to
support the increasing number of children in the family.
THE FILIPINO FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY

Another component that has contributed to the development of an individual

is the community.
A community is a group of families living together in a certain place.
 It can be compared to a big family when the members are the different
families living near each other.

The community contributes to the development of the family through its

community services.

It has provided for the physical, mental, social and spiritual development of
the members of the families living in the community.
EVOLVING A SATISFYING FAMILY LIFE

Achieving a satisfying family life is a goal of every family. This is an easy task if
all members will do its share in making a satisfying family life. Nickle and Dorsey
classified these responsibilities into:

1. Those which involve the development of a satisfying philosophy and

formulation of attainable goals.

2. Those which are associated with the growth and development of the family
members.

3. Those which center about problem-solving incidents to the management of

resources to the attainment of goals.
4. Those which involve physical activity in homemaking.

5. Those which are connected with family and participation in local and national
affairs.
These responsibilities according to Dorsey, although widespread, are mutually
exclusive. They are closely interrelated and interdependent and therefore must be
carried concurrently. Most of them are shared by parents and some are shared with
the children. The first step in evolving a satisfying family life is listing down of its
resources. The family should be aware of its assets and liabilities. These may be in
form of money, time and effort. They should know what they have and do not have,
for this will be the basis of the formulation of the family goals that will determine the
direction of the family and its members. The second step is formulating the goals of
the family. The family should be guided on what they need in life. Provision for these
needs will make a family happy. Frustrations and conflicts among the members may
be prevented when family goals are set in relation to its resources. The third step is
deciding the activities of the family to realize the goals. Ability to know what one
wants in life to be happy will be useless without knowing how it can be
accomplished. The family should be able to decide strategies to follow in order to
realize a goal. Success in life may be realized if all members will try its very best in all
their undertakings. The fourth step is deciding the responsibilities of each member
towards the realization of the goals of the family. The family is a business enterprise
where every member is duty bound to share his time life, effort and money.
Achieving a satisfying family life will be made easy and faster if all members share in
the responsibilities. The last step in evolving a satisfying family life is evaluating the
outcomes of the different activities engaged in by the members of the family in
relation to the set goals. This can be done during the family council where all
members can help make decisions for future plans to improve the family goals and
strategies. This will make each member realize his responsibility in making a satisfying
family life. “The family life you make is the family life you will have.”
LESSON 3

THE FILIPINO HOME HISTORY OF THE FILIPIN HOME

The development of the house in the Philippines can be traced from the type
of house our ancestors built. Long before the coming of the Spaniards, our ancestors
lived in caves and houses built on top of trees.

Houses of this type can still be found in some places, especially in remote
barrios among the minority groups of Filipinos. With the coming of different people
from various parts of the world, changes both in building materials and styles of
house construction were introduced.

They started building houses in low lands using materials from plants like
grasses, leaves, trunks, and branches of trees. Skins of the animals were also used.

The bungalow type of house was constructed since it is the simplest, being flat
on the ground. This was found to be very convenient for the use of the family as
maintenance was very simple and easy.

The climate and the surroundings circumstances also affected the type of
material and style of house construction. The availability of building materials is
another major factor in house construction.

House made from bamboo is usually found in places where bamboos grow in
abundance. Houses made of stone and cement is common in places where there
are stones and sources of materials for making cement.

Hand in hand with the change in building materials, several styles of houses
were introduced. These was brought about by the changing needs of the family.

As the members of the family increased in number and in size, the problem in space
was felt. The chalet was made higher to give room to the expanding family.

Thus, a two storey house was born. More rooms were constructed in both the
first and second storey. Families with more members introduced some innovations by
combining the bungalow and two storey house.

This resulted to a new style called one and a half house. Others constructed
the duplex type, where families of procreation and orientation can live separately.
As more members established their own families, additional doors were built.

This type of house is called apartment. A tenement type is a type of house

where several families can live separately. This is provided with a common
playground for the recreational needs of the different families. A counterpart of the
tenement house is the condominium.

This is almost similar to tenement house; as different families can live

separately. The only difference is the type of building materials and facilities
provided for the different families.

Condominiums are usually made of expensive building materials, provided

with first-class facilities, and built in places accessible to the convenience in life.
FUNDAMENTAL FEATURES OF A DESIRABLE HOME

Everybody wants a home. Next to marriage, every girl dreams of a house of

her own. As you peep into this dream house, the first thing that you will see is the
physical structure which it is made of.

You will see the different parts of the house with their corresponding color,
shape, line, and texture. As you look into the different rooms, you will see the
different furnishings, properly chosen and arranged to suit the needs of the members
of the family.

As a member of the family, you must be aware of the fundamental features of

a desirable home, so that you can have a share in building a home within the house
where you live. The following are some of the desirable features of a home.
Physical Aspect

A desirable home must be a healthful place for the family. To be healthful, a

house must have the following:
1. Enough windows to provide adequate light and air
2. Working space with the standard height to prevent stooping

3. Conveniently arranged tools and equipment to conserve time, energy

and money
4. Enough bedrooms for each member of the family
5. Clean interior and exterior rooms
6. Safe from things that will cause accidents
7. Free from household pests
8. Well-designed drainage
9. Proper garbage disposal
10. Adequate supply of clean drinking water
11. adequate storage space
12. well-screened windows and doors
13. Walls, floors, and furnishing which are easily cleaned
14. Plants surrounding the house
15. Properly maintained appliances and furnishings
Social Aspect
A desirable home must be a place where members can be reared to have a
satisfying personal, family, and community life. To be able to do this, a home must
have the following:
1. An atmosphere where members can feel that they belong to a group.

2. An atmosphere where members can feel the usefulness of his contribution to

family life.

3. An atmosphere where members can lead a useful life in terms of family and
community life.

4. Opportunities where each member can develop desirable traits such as

responsibility, cooperation, leadership, respect, consideration, loyalty, and empathy.
5. Family council where decisions for the family are cooperatively made.
Intellectual Aspect

A desirable home must be a place where members will be provided with

opportunities to develop mentally. The following provisions are needed for mental
development:
1. Activities for mental development in different fields.
2. Conducive place with proper lighting and ventilation.
3. Adequate tools, materials and equipment.
4. Enough time for mental development.
5. An atmosphere conducive for mental development.
Emotional Aspect

A desirable home must be a place for the development of desirable emotions

and opportunities to control or redirect undesirable emotions. It should be a place
where the following are developed:
1. Security
2. Love
3. Feeling of belonging
4. Feeling of success
5. Feeling of being accepted by the family
RESPONSIBLITIES TOWARDS BUILDING A HOME

Homemaking is a cooperative enterprise. Each member has a shared

responsibility for seeing to it that the family goals are realized. No one is exempted
from sharing in the task of building a home. To succeed in homemaking, each
member should realize that the task of building a home is a responsibility of all. These
must be performed because these are necessary for the successful operation of the
home which in one way or another will affect each member. Sharing home activities
has definite educational values.
 The home serves as the most satisfactory laboratory for the development of
skills and techniques in homemaking, attitudes and interest in homemaking activities,
increasing understanding of each member and individual personality. To have a
systematic plan of building a home, a family council may be organized. This will give
all the members opportunity to plan for activities to realize the goals which they
have cooperatively set.

In an ideal family, each member contributes something worthwhile to home

life and receives something in return. The contribution may be in the form of money,
services and the greatest of all the psychic income such as cooperation, loyalty,
reliability, kindness and understanding. Let us analyze the typical Filipino family and
consider their contribution towards a happy and successful home life.

The father being the head and pillar of the family provides adequate income
to support the needs and wants of the different members.

As a father, he contributes services in the maintenance of the home such as

the repairs of the house, furnishing, and appliances.
He leads the members of the family in making major decisions for the family.

He, as the head, makes the final decision. As a partner in building the home,
he provides companionship and inspiration to both the children and mother.

Together with the mother, he provides guidance to the children so that they
will grow up to be an asset, not a liability to society.
The mother is considered the light and heart of the home.
She is the light of the home because she takes charge of making the house
and provides both the physical and social needs of the family.

She prepares nutritious food, buys appropriate clothing, and makes the home
livable.

She is considered as the heart of the home, because she provides the
understanding, love, and affection to make all members feel secured.

Like the father, she provides inspiration not only to her children but most
especially to her husband.

The children are also partners in building a desirable home. First and foremost,
they provide inspiration to their parents to carry on their respective roles in
homemaking. They either help in or assume the different home responsibilities
according to their age and abilities.