Mary Gale Smith

Dr. Mary Gale Smith is a sessional lecturer in the Faculty of Education at UBC and a retired home economics teacher.

After teaching elementary school for 10 years I specialized in home economics and taught in BC schools from 1980 to 2003. At various times I was seconded to the Faculty of Education at UBC and since my retirement I have been a sessional lecturer, so I have been involved with home economics teacher education and graduate studies in home economics for almost thirty years. I have taught courses in curriculum and pedagogy for home economics. Health and global education; and general research methods and action research for graduate students. My research interests include critical social and global issues in home economics education, sustainable development education, curriculum and pedagogy in home economics, teacher action research, and food history.
I have a Bachelor of Education (Specializing in Physical Education and Home Economics), a MA in Education (Specializing in Home Economics) and a PhD in Education (Specializing in Curriculum Studies).

Recent Publications:

Renwick, K., & Smith, M. G. (2020). The Political Action of Food Literacy: A Scoping Review. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 112(1), 14-22.
Smith, M. G. (2019). Re‐visiting Vaines: Toward a decolonizing framework for home economics, International Journal of Home Economics (IJHE), 12(2), 11-33.
Smith, M. G. (2019). Keeping the “British” in British Columbia: A Case Study of Using a Cookbook for Historical Research Home Economics Education. Proceedings of the Canadian Symposium XIII. Issues and Directions for Home Economics/Family Studies Education, Vancouver, B.C. https://www.ca-symposium.com/
Smith, M.G. & de Zwart, M.L. (2017). Eat Your History: Bringing a Historical Perspective into Food Studies. Proceedings of the Canadian Symposium XIII. Issues and Directions for Home Economics/Family Studies Education, London, ON. https://www.ca-symposium.com/
Smith, M. G. (2017). Pedagogy for Home Economics education: Braiding together three perspectives. International Journal of Home Economics (IJHE), 10(2), 1-16.
Smith, M.G. (2016). “Bring Back Home Economics”? Challenging Contested Discourses on Obesity. Journal of Family and Consumer Science, 108(4), 7-12.
Smith, Mary Gale (2016). Ideas Shaping Practice: Can Home Economics Practice be Informed by Bakhtinian Themes? KAPPA OMICRON NU FORUM, the Journal of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society, 19(1). http://kon.org/archives/forum/19-1/gale-smith.html
Smith, Mary Gale (2010). The "Goods Life" Or The "Good Life": Exploring The Concept Of Consumer Citizen And Its Meaning For Home Economics Pedagogy. In M. O’Donoghue & S. Wahlen (Eds.), ‘Global Sustainable Development: A Challenge for Consumer Citizens,Vol. 2. Bonn, Germany: IFHE. http://www.educationforsustainabledevelopment.org
Smith, Mary Gale (2008). Sustainable Development and Home Economics Education. In M. O’Donoghue & S. Wahlen (Eds.), ‘Global Sustainable Development: A Challenge for Consumer Citizen, Vol.1, Bonn, Germany: IFHE. http://www.educationforsustainabledevelopment.org
Smith, Mary Gale (2009). Food or Nutrition Literacy? What Concept Should Guide Home Economics Education. International Journal of Home Economics (IJHE).Volume 2 Issue 1, http://www.ifhe.org/47.html
Smith, Mary Gale (2009). Corporate Involvement in Education: Considerations for Home Economics Educators. International Journal of Home Economics (IJHE). Volume 2 Issue 1, http://www.ifhe.org/47.html