Michael Napoli’s Reviews > The Kennedys: An American Drama > Status Update

Her school Sacred Heart describing teaching domestic duties as "domestic science" made me skeptical Rose's or her school's definition of science. Of course, there could be scientific approaches to most disciplines and I am sure that could include domestic labor. I think of the ergonomic scientists in workplaces for example, whom perform studies for more efficient and safe movements in the workplace. However, I was skeptical early 1900s Sacred Heart nuns were teaching truly scientifically guided teachings. The quote about how Rose "collected data" as evidence of her scientific child-rearing I believe confirms my initial instinct.

One could argue that the term science here refers to an antiquated term of science -- when most disciplines were conflated with science and philosophy -- however, Dr. John Snow had already set a strong foundation for scientific empiricism 70 years earlier. I also doubt that they are conflating "science" with anything other than the modern sense of the word because of Rose's data collection. If the nuns mistaught their star student Rose Fitzgerald the scientific process that already was already defined at this time, then I believe my initial skepticism is justified. Creating partitions between your children to prevent them to hurt each other is not scientific as Rose implies, unless there is a rigorous study proving your conjecture is true. If one is magnanimous, they could describe her child rearing as more of an engineering philosophy where a posteriori experience is sufficient to guide one's practices.