Realities of Homemaking Education at Elementary Schools in Yamagata Prefecture (1)

Abstract

The contents of homemaking education which have lately been revised are divided into four items, i.e. clothing, food, dwelling, and home, aiming at cultivating the practical and desirable attitude of living. In order to attain this goal, homemaking is to be taught to the fifth and sixth grade boys and girls of the elementary school. However, many problems still remain to be solved. In this research, I selected 150 schools in the prefecture by random sampling in order to investigate the children's interest, parents' demand, and school equipment. The results are as follows : - 1. As to the favourite course, homemaking stands second with girls both in the cities and rural districts, while with boys it stands seventh. As to the interest 45% of boys take interest in home management. 2. Parents generally demand that stress should be laid on basic courses, but girls' parents (especially mothers) consider the course of homemaking as essential to girls. 3. 65% of schools use ordinary classrooms for homemaking, and most schools are poorly equipped. By this investigation, I find that researchers of homemaking education should eagerly endeavour to enlighten people in general as to the significance of homemaking education.