Sordid Subject of Boeuf Bourguignon, The

Synopsis

Archive film and stills are used to show how home economics (then called domestic science) was introduced into the elementary schools of the 1870s. The effect of the Physical Deterioration Report on the education of working-class girls in the early 20th century is mentioned. Examines various attempts to give the subject more status. Interviews with women at school in the 1920s allow pupils of the time to describe how their schooling affected their lives. Shows the effects of the 1944 Education Act on girls’ education and examines how the home economics is taught today, having undergone drastic changes for GCSE and the National Curriculum.
Many home economists were worried that it would disappear from the curriculum altogether, but it is now being re-established as a technology subject. Home economists say the subject is now process-led rather than content-led, and that the gender differentiation of the past will now disappear. Shows an investigative home economics lesson: is this just another attempt to give the subject status? Is it still a waste of girls’ time or has it truly escaped the gender bias of the past to become a really useful subject adding depth and breadth to the curriculum?

Series

Curriculum and Learning, Course E271

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 24 min.

Year of production

1991

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

Education

Keywords

secondary education

Credits

Producer

Rosemary Hill

Contributor

Kate Moon

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk