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Live From Studio 1A: Homemaker's Education?

This morning we did a story on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the nation's largest Southern Baptist seminaries, which is offering a program in homemaking.The course includes the study of nutrition and meal preparation, textile design and "clothing construction," general homemaking, "the value of a child," and the "biblical model for the home and family."And here's the catch

This morning we did a story on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the nation's largest Southern Baptist seminaries, which is offering a program in homemaking.

The course includes the study of nutrition and meal preparation, textile design and "clothing construction," general homemaking, "the value of a child," and the "biblical model for the home and family."

And here's the catch -- it's only open to women.

Ann moderated a debate between Rachel Hamman, an author and homemaker, and Glenn Williams, the senior vice president of Focus on the Family.

Ms. Hamman's points were that this program sends women back to the 1950s, makes them submissive to men and that taking a course in homemaking does not prepare a woman for that role.

Mr. Williams argued that the program is a great idea and should indeed be open only to women.

I fall somewhere in the middle of their points. I don't think it's fair to deprive men the right to learn how to contribute to a household. Wouldn't it be helpful for a man to learn about "the value of a child"? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

But I also don't think that offering the program sets women back decades. If there are students at this school who are interested in these kinds of courses, then why not offer them? If it were a requirement for all women to follow the program, that would be another story.