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April, 1935 At the One Month and Three Month Schools conducted throughout the Province by the Women's astiâ€" tutes Branch and the Agricultural Representatives Branch during Deâ€" cember, January and February, 1,782 girls and 1.718 boys were registered. One Month Courses report 1,454 girls enrolled with ages ranging from 13 to 76 and an average .a e of 22. 31% had not attended hig school; 29% had attended two years or less- 4% were teachers; 2% nurses an 3% business girls. Three Month Courses report 329 'rls enrolled with ages ranging £0111 13 to 35 and an average of 19. 28% had not attended high school; 3970 had attended two years or less; 2 u were teachers; 9% nurses and 2% business girls. large number over and above those regis- tcred attended lectures as visitors. Some of the irls boarded, but the majority walk , drove horse or car, travelled by train or bus daily from their homes. Many walked four to six miles and others drove from eight to fifteen miles over slippery and snowy roads in sub-zero weather. Accommodations Classes were held in school rooms with home economics equipment, in church basements, community, town- ship or ledge halls and in houses. Equipment and accommodation rang- ed from ideal to most inadequate and unsatisfactory, but the earnestness of the students the ads tability and wise leadership of t e stat! helped to overcome many rather serious handioa s in this respect. Enterprising omen's Institutes local organizations, township and municipal councils, appreciative. of the possibilities of well-organized courses, gave necessary and valuable assistance in respect to publicity, finances (for such local ex enses as halls, fuel, caretalnng) an interest throughout the course. Realizing that short courses are available but once to the same group‘ of young people, that only a nominal fee is charged each student for class room supplies, that the Department fur- nishes the stafi and makes the course possible, the majority of communi- ties considered it their responsibility and privilege to provide suitable ac- commodation so that the school hours might be utilized to the best ad- vantage and under the most satis- factory conditions. What did the girls get from the course and what are they going to do with it? Food for Health ‘ Girls who enrolled at classes hop» ing to get recipes were soon im- pressed with the fact that the task of feeding the family does not consist in merely giving them food. If the family food is to contribute to the health, happiness and efficiency of e members as the newer knowledge of nutrition makes possible, care ust be taken in the selection, pre- paration, and serving of that food. _ good meal is one that is e 'oyed. t is made up of foods that one ikes; at the same time, it must furnish sterials that the body needs for growth, maintenance and protection rein those infections that are always coking for victims. By keejping food elect-ion scores, the girls iscovered hat their diets were often inadecpiate n milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables, hose foods which are easily avail- le to farm folk, Being wide-awake, ntelligent girls, they at once pro- eerled to increase their consumption _f these foods and to secure informa- ion regarding servin them attrac~ ly and preparin em in a varie- of ways accor ing to approved ethods to conserve food value. “Food or Health" is the family's right and ach homemaker must assume re~ ponsibility to see that the family’s 0 :r 0‘9 E m 3,500 Students nol Short Course Schools ed At Winter rights ip respect to “Food for Health” are maintained. The Work of the House. Farm women wish information and guidance _to assist them in carrying on the daily home tasks according to approved practices and economically in respect to time, labour, effort and material used, so that they may have tune and _strength to do all the inter- esting things they wish to do and should do. As one found girls work- ing in groups cleaning metals and woods .according to ap roved and economical methods, redidsbing old cupboards, plannin simple means of making class room ‘tchen more eflici- ent and attractive wherever possible, caring for demonstration equipment, studying home kitchens and discuss- ing improvements that would make for time and labour saving practices efficiency and attractiveness, an plannin a daily and weekly schedule of war for homemakers, one felt that practical direction was being given these girls regarding house hold managementâ€"the planning and doing of the work of the house. Health for All Every girl wants to be beautiful and charming, handsome and attrac- tive, and successful. The girls learn- ed that _a few simple facts applied to the choice of food, to selection and care of clothes and to establishing and practicing health habits will help make the most of those physical and possibly of those mental attributes With which nature endowed them. In the health education, home nursing and first aid classes through lectures, demonstrations an discussions on individual, famil and community health and participation in health projects, the girls were made health conscious. They became more aware of the value of health, that it is worthwhile, must be worked for and practiced, that it makes for happiness, efficiency and success, that it is a real achievement and that each individual must assume a definite res onsibility for her own health. Heath habits were checked and more consistently adhered to and new practices adopted resulting in evidences of better health on the part of some students. Some courses re art a survey of local conditions an needs regardin toxoid, safe milk, vaccination an other preventive measures. Good Dressing In the clothing, the girls found that as with eating, good dressing is not a matter of accident, impulse or whim, but must be guided by intelli- gence as to certain clothing princi- ples. To be well dressed. a girl must be well groomed, appropriately dressed, careful in the way she puts on and wears her clothes and must carry herself well. After demonstra- tions on line, design and colour, a study of textiles, girls were prepared to select wisely the material and style for the garment they were to make in class. Tall, thin girls found they had previously selected patterns which made them appear taller and thinner; while short, stout girls found that they need not appear so short and stout. As the girls appear- ed at clothing exhibits in completed garments, knowing why they had chosen the particular materials and styles for the garments, how to make them, how to care for them, how to wear them and where and when to wear them, it was evident that future clothing problems for these girls would not be solved by accident, whim or impulse. Special Features At the Three Months Courses where special instruction was given in house furnishing and household textiles and accessories, the girls gained an ap- preciation of what may be done in HOME AND COUNTRY V PROVINCIAL TREASURY NEEDS ANNUAL FEES Federated Board Use Funds Efliciently "In order to keep the finances of the Provincial Federated Women‘s Institutes in the present admirable and healthy condition, every Branch Secretary should send to her District Secretary the ten cents for each member due the Federation out of the annual twentyâ€"five cent membership fee before or at the time of_ the Dis- trict Annual Meeting,” advrses Mrs. R. B. Colloton, President of the Fed- erated Women’s Institutes of Ontario. In explanation, Mrs. Colloton con- tinued ‘No doubt, the first thought of some members on seeing the finan- cial statement in the January ‘Home and Count was ‘Why such a large balance? owever, the keen observer would note that the year's receipts of $3,483.07 and expenditures of $3,374.31 were very close, leaving only a small balance on the right side of the ledger. “The balance of approximately $5,000 has been accumulated during the past several years by a rigorous restriction of mpenditure in order to provide a ainlcing fund to take care of contingencies as such may arise. "With this object accomplished, the Federated Board felt free last year to give substantial assistance to the publishing of 'Home and Country,’ a venture which has been of splendid value and is capable of greater con« tribution as time and experience progress. “In addition, this year will see the subdivisions of Kenora and Rainy River placed an the same basis as all other subdivisions in the province re- garding District Annuals, a privilege which has been denied them hereto- fore on account of expense. This means that the representative on the Federated Board will attend all the District Annual meetings in her ter- ritory. Her travelling expenses will be paid by the Federated Board and the district visited will be responsible for her living expenses." When the District Secretaries re- ceive the fees from the branches, they should forward them promptly to the Secretaryâ€"Treasurer of the Federated Board, Mrs. W. B. Leather- dale, Goldwater, Ontario. (Continued from Col. 2) housing and a greater knowledge of the principles of house furnishing. Joint classes with boys and girls were held for special lectures ‘iu poultry, gardening, care of milk, horticulture, home beautification and forestry, and for literaries. The liter- aries included pro ammes of de‘ hates, addresses, 5 _its, mock par- liaments, music, public s eaking, cur- rent events, civics, and ocal history. They gave the class members an op- portunity to conduct meetings in ‘a businessâ€"like way, to improve their ability to speak and to think, and en» couraged them to further reading and study. At a number of courses, in- struction was given in music. Many students found joy in really singing for the first time and no doubt many a farm lad and [ass will he heard singing "I'm a Vag-vag-vagabond" or some old Folk Song with great joy and satisfaction as they merrily put into practice some of the short course instruction. Of course, it wasn’t all workâ€"class parties, teas, bauquem and all lu'nds of good, wholesome fun were in order. Teas gave the girls an opportunity to entertain their mothers and interest- ed seniors. They prepared the food in class, exhibited their work, de- monstrated special phases of class instruction and took great pride in playing hostess with poise, dignity, and in a most commendable manner. When the boys’ class were guests to tea on such occasions, they enjoyed it and took great delight in showing the girls they knew what should be done at a tea quite as well as their hostesses. MANITOUL N HOSPITAL APPRECIATES AID Letter to Mrs. R. B. Colloton, Provincial President Appreciation of the generosity of the omen’s Institutes in contribut, ing to the Manitoulin Hospital is shown by the following letter sent to Mrs. R. B. Colloton by Mr. A. J. Wagg, Secretary-Treasurer of the Manitoulin Hospital Association. “On behalf of the Manitoulin Hos- pital Board, and the 22 branches of the Women’s Institutes on Manitouâ€" lin Island, I wish, through the colâ€" umns of ‘Home and Country,’ to thank the various Institute branches throughout Ontario who have so gen- erousy come to our aid in raising funds to retain the Manitoulin Hosp pital as a public institution. “While we have not yet reached our objective, we have received in cash donations over threeâ€"quarters of the amount which we require and we feel confident that, by early sum- mer, there will be enough donations come in to enable us to secure the deed of the property. We also hope that we will have enough extra funds to provide ample accommodation in the hospital for taldng care of all maternity cases. “Those Institute branches that have donated to our funds will be inter- ested in knowing that the Red Cross Society took charge of this hospital last November and are carrying on in their usual eflicient manner. We also have an X~ray installed capable of doing all X-ray work. We also have a doctor located near the hos- pital who is an experienced surgeon and one who has had many years’ experience with the Xâ€"ray. “Any donations, however small, from any of the branches of the Women’s Institutes who may yet wish to help will be gratefully received and acknowledged. "We hear considerable these days about the various ‘Brotherhoods’ and the work that they are doing, but the Women‘s Institute organization is a large ‘Sisterhood' doing a work second to none of the other organâ€" izations and one which has not been sufficiently well recognized.” (Continued from Col. 3) Interest Continues Seniors in short course districts feel that their young folk have had special opportunities and advantages through these classes. They already report that girls are talcing a greater interest in the work in the home, have gained a better understanding and conception of that Work and are as- sumng more responsibility. The ‘1']: have something to say for themse ves. This is a typical comâ€" ment "We cannot realize yet all the benefits of our course. Not for some time will we really fully appreciate in many ways all the help we have received and the knowledge gained. It is only as we apply this in our every day liVing that we really bene- lit by it.” Junior Institutes have been organ~ ized at the conclusion of 16 short courses. These new Juniors are deâ€" sirous of making their or anization a means through which t ey may continue their short course studies, so are planning to carry on Home Economics projects in connection with their meetings. If the girls have left these courses with a conception of the greatness of simple, common tasks well done, with a desire to know the how and why of doing these daily tasks well and wil- lingness to‘ work, with a consciousâ€" ness of their own power and respon- sibility in making a success of their job of Being_A Girl, a homemaker, and rural citizen, the 1935 short courses have indeed been worthwhile. (Contributed by Miss F. Eadie In- stitutes Branch.)