History of Home economics in Timeline

Home economics, also known as domestic science or family and consumer sciences, encompasses various subjects including human development, finances, consumer issues, housing, nutrition, and textiles. Traditionally taught in secondary schools, dedicated courses are now less prevalent. The field focuses on equipping individuals with skills for managing their homes and personal lives effectively.

1900: Reifenstein schools gaining prominence

Around 1900, the Reifenstein schools concept, initiated by Ida von Kortzfleisch, gained prominence. These schools provided higher education for women in rural economics.

1900: Bills discussed in Congress dealt with home economics

From 1900, more than thirty bills discussed in Congress dealt with issues of American vocational education and, by association, home economics.

1908: Establishment of the International Federation for Home Economics

In 1908, the International Federation for Home Economics was established to coordinate international cooperation in the field of Home Economics.

1909: American Home Economics Association Founded

In 1909, Ellen Swallow Richards founded the American Home Economics Association (now called the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences).

1913: Johannes Kramer praises Iowa home economic system

In 1913, Johannes Kramer's doctorate compared different concepts of home economic education worldwide and praised the system of home economics education in Iowa.

1914: Smith-Lever Act Created Federal Funds for Home Economics

In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act created federal funds for "vocational education agriculture, trades and industry, and homemaking" and created the Office of Home Economics.

1917: Smith-Hughes Act Created Federal Funds for Home Economics

In 1917, the Smith-Hughes Act created federal funds for "vocational education agriculture, trades and industry, and homemaking" and created the Office of Home Economics.

1917: Bills discussed in Congress dealt with home economics

Until 1917, more than thirty bills discussed in Congress dealt with issues of American vocational education and, by association, home economics.

1920: First practice baby at Cornell University

In 1920, Cornell University borrowed their first practice baby, called Dicky Domecon when he was three weeks old. The practice baby was borrowed by Cornell, and belonged to the students and to the department.

1923: Gentile reform introduces home economics

Starting from the Gentile reform of 1923, home economics was taught in the lower middle school in Italy.

1929: First College-Level Family Science Department in South Korea

In 1929, the first college-level department of family science was established at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea.

1941: Death of Thereza Charlotte, Lady Rucker

In 1941, Thereza Charlotte, Lady Rucker, a promoter of household science teaching, died. She had helped establish Domestic Science as a university subject at one university in England.

1945: Ada Gobetti on the housewife's role post WWII

In 1945, Ada Gobetti discussed the challenges facing housewives after World War II, emphasizing the importance of education and organization for women in shaping a new society.

1956: Percentage of female college students

In 1956, 34.5% of college students were female, as opposed to 56.4% in 2016.

1957: Home economics conference in Bogor

In 1957, a conference on home economics was held in Bogor, Indonesia, which laid the foundation for what would become state policy.

1959: Home economics programs with full-time operation decreased

By 1959, less than one percent of the Home economics programs still ran full-time operations nationally.

1963: Vocational Education Act Funds Job Training

In 1963, Congress passed the Vocational Education Act, which granted funds to vocational education job training. Home economics courses started being taught across the nation to both boys and girls by way of the rise of second-wave feminism.

1963: Home economics taught in unified middle school

In 1963, home economics was taught in the new unified middle school, differentiated by gender as Technical Applications.

1964: Civil Rights Act and Desegregation

With desegregation and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, men and women of all backgrounds could equally learn how to sew, cook, and balance a checkbook.

1971: Home economics added to Leaving Certificate

In 1971, home economics was added to the senior cycle Leaving Certificate in secondary school, coinciding with increased school participation due to the elimination of school fees.

1972: Home economics becomes state policy in Indonesia

In 1972, home economics became state policy in Indonesia and was known as Family Training and Welfare (Pembinaan dan Kesejahteraan Keluarga, PKK).

1977: Technical Applications changed to Technical Education

In 1977, Technical Applications (differentiated into male and female) changed to the title of Technical Education, which no longer differed in relation to the sex of the pupils.

1990: End of Reifensteiner Verband operations

In 1990, the Reifensteiner Verband, which had been operating since 1897, ceased its operations. The organization comprised of 15 schools and cooperated with other operators, connecting about 40 rural economist women schools to the Reifensteiner concept.

1994: Family and Consumer Sciences Term Adopted

In 1994, organizations like the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences adopted the term "Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)" to better reflect the broader scope of the field beyond home life and wellness.

1994: American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences changes name

In 1994, the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences officially changed the name of "home economics" to "family and consumer sciences" to more accurately represent the profession and field as a whole.

1994: Home Economics Renamed Family and Consumer Sciences

Starting in 1994, home economics courses in the United States began being referred to as "family and consumer sciences" in order to make the class appear more inclusive.

2011: Swedish School Reform Restructures Home Economics Curriculum

In 2011, the Swedish school reform restructured the home economics curriculum with more focus on health, economy, and environment, including consumer economics and consumer awareness.

2012: Decline in FCS Secondary Program Enrollment

In 2012, there were only 3.5 million students enrolled in FCS secondary programs, marking a 38 percent decrease over a decade.

2014: Finnish National Core Curriculum Emphasizes Home Economics

In 2014, the Finnish National Core Curriculum for Basic Education emphasized the importance of home economics as a key element for achieving sustainable development throughout the curriculum.

2015: Home Economics replaced by Food and Nutrition in the UK

In 2015, the Home Economics GCSE qualification in the UK was replaced with a course entitled Food and Nutrition, focusing more on the nutritional aspects of food than economics.

2016: Female College Students Exceed Male Students

In 2016, 56.4% of college students were female as opposed to 34.5% in 1956, indicating a shift in educational pursuits.

2020: Increase in FCS Program Enrollment

In 2020, the AAFCS estimates that there are 5 million students enrolled in FCS programs, a significant increase from past years that is still growing.