See how Family Studies as a subject has evolved over the last century.
Created by lauramackler on Feb 2, 2011
Last updated: 02/02/11 at 10:56 AM
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Today Family Studies is closely linked with the Health and Physical Education curriculum. Although many of the topics covered are similar (for example: heart health, mental health, sexuality, violence) the approach and focus of how they are taught differs significantly. Out of the 19 courses offered in the Social Sciences and Humanities curriculum, 13 of those courses are in the Family Studies discipline.
After Mike Harris' educational reform ("The Common Sense Revolution") there were implications for the Family Studies subject. At a secondary level, Family Studies became firmly situated in the Social Sciences and Humanities document. All Family Studies courses are currently optional. At an elementary level Family Studies no longer exists as part of the curriculum. The Grade 7 and 8 Family Studies curriculum that was clearly evident in the 1987 curriculum was removed.
After Mike Harris' educational reform ("The Common Sense Revolution") there were implications for the Family Studies subject. At a secondary level, Family Studies became firmly situated in the Social Sciences and Humanities document. All Family Studies courses are currently optional. At an elementary level Family Studies no longer exists as part of the curriculum. The Grade 7 and 8 Family Studies curriculum that was clearly evident in the 1987 curriculum was removed.
After Mike Harris' educational reform ("The Common Sense Revolution") there were implications for the Family Studies subject. At a secondary level, Family Studies became firmly situated in the Social Sciences and Humanities document. All Family Studies courses are currently optional. At an elementary level Family Studies no longer exists as part of the curriculum. The Grade 7 and 8 Family Studies curriculum that was clearly evident in the 1987 curriculum was removed.
After Mike Harris' educational reform ("The Common Sense Revolution") there were implications for the Family Studies subject. At a secondary level, Family Studies became firmly situated in the Social Sciences and Humanities document. All Family Studies courses are currently optional. At an elementary level Family Studies no longer exists as part of the curriculum. The Grade 7 and 8 Family Studies curriculum that was clearly evident in the 1987 curriculum was removed.
After Mike Harris' educational reform ("The Common Sense Revolution") there were implications for the Family Studies subject. At a secondary level, Family Studies became firmly situated in the Social Sciences and Humanities document. All Family Studies courses are currently optional. At an elementary level Family Studies no longer exists as part of the curriculum. The Grade 7 and 8 Family Studies curriculum that was clearly evident in the 1987 curriculum was removed.
Guidelines are created for teaching Family Studies in Grade 7 and 8 classes. Secondary Family Studies classes begin to be offered at the advance, general, basic levels. Parenting as a course, is introduced. OAC courses in Family Studies begin to prepare students for post-secondary education in this subject area.
Guidelines are created for teaching Family Studies in Grade 7 and 8 classes. Secondary Family Studies classes begin to be offered at the advance, general, basic levels. Parenting as a course, is introduced. OAC courses in Family Studies begin to prepare students for post-secondary education in this subject area.
Guidelines are created for teaching Family Studies in Grade 7 and 8 classes. Secondary Family Studies classes begin to be offered at the advance, general, basic levels. Parenting as a course, is introduced. OAC courses in Family Studies begin to prepare students for post-secondary education in this subject area.
The curriculum as well as the course name changes. The focus shifts from teaching about hygiene and sanitation, to engaging young men and women, in discussions about family and human relationships.
Divorce rates begin to rise and Home Economics begins to focus more on the changing family.
During this time Home Economics as a course develops around science, economics and art. For example in food courses economics looked at the practical selection and management of food, science at nutrition and art at food preparation and presentation.
Through the growing enrollment of secondary students in the 1920s, Domestic Science courses begin to be taught at a high school level. New facilities begin to be built, for example classrooms equipped for dressmaking and cooking.
At the Ontario Agriculture College in Guelph the first courses on Domestic Science begin to be taught, in order to train teachers who are teaching this in their own classrooms.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, schools begin to inform students about epidemics, diseases and nutrition. The idea was that the student would bring the information home to their families as well as use the information themselves, with their own future children.
Much to the hard work of Hoodless, Domestic Science begins to be taught in the early 1900s, to elementary students. The focus is sanitation, hygiene, home economics and child care.
Hoodless is asked by the Ontario's Minister of Education to travel the province, speaking about the need for Domestic Science education. Hoodless does this as well as publishes a book on the topic.
Adelaide Hunter Hoodless speaks with much conviction at an annual meeting, suggesting that the farmers care more about their animals than their own wives and children. She strongly states that this needed to change.
Adelaide's infant son dies after drinking contaminated milk. This begins Adelaide's mission to assist women throughout Canada to provide proper care for themselves and their families.
Francis Bacon states a revolutionary idea which can be seen as the basis of home economic study: "Knowledge should be pursued for the purpose of helping humans better their lives and that the search for knowledge should cover events such as every day living".
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