A chara, – Hilary Fannin wrote recently of her memories of being relegated to domestic science class, while the chosen few absorbed the wonders of science (“The nuns split us into girls who did science and girls who did domestic science”, Life, September 30th). Perhaps a closer look at what a lesson on rock buns covers might be in order?
Home economics, as it has been known for the past 40 years, teaches students numeracy skills in the manner of weighing and measuring of ingredients; culinary skills in terms of completing a rock buns recipe; molecular gastronomy in understanding the crystallisation of sugar atop the buns; budgeting skills in terms of unit costing; consumer skills in terms of selecting appropriate ingredients and buying Irish; energy efficiency know-how in terms of making full use of the oven; time-management proficiency in completing said recipe within the allotted time; portion-size comprehension in comparing home-baked buns to shop-bought produce; sensory-analysis awareness in terms of the weekly evaluation of cookery and, perhaps for this home economics teacher anyway, the joy of eating together. – Is mise,
AISLING GERAGHTY,
Maynooth,
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Co Kildare.