The presence of this candy mold is an opportunity to talk about the teaching of domestic science. This field, often denigrated in the past, was considered essential to the SNJM.
For Mother Marie-Rose, an educated young girl would be able to assume her role as primary educator in the home, and make her contribution to both her family and her community. The teaching of domestic arts, culinary arts and sewing aimed to make women autonomous and responsible, already putting into practice the principles of local development and the rule of the 5Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse or repair, recycle and return to the earth [compost])!
In cooking classes, young girls learned the basics of chemistry and tackled a wide range of topics. Confectionery and patisserie, with the making of cakes, cookies, candies and chocolates, were particularly popular. These were often produced using metal molds. Models ranged from fish shapes to fir trees, flowers, stars, shells…
Training in culinary arts and sewing was compulsory in Quebec from grades 1 to 12. There was a time when educating girls was not considered essential. However, it was recognized that it was important to train them to become “good mothers”.
