Recently, reader Kelly sent me a link to this article. First off, thanks Kelly. The article is well-written and witty. Several parts gave me a good chuckle, so if you need one today, pop over and read it.
In a nutshell, the article builds an argument for requiring Home Ec, or Family and Consumer Sciences, for ALL students. Using her ex-boyfriend as an example, the author points out that we have a new generation of 20 and 30 something “kidults,” as in people who never learned an ounce of independence and self-reliance.
We are talking the basics here: rudimentary cooking, sewing on a button, managing personal finances–stuff everyone needs to know to function without over-dependence on the service industry and crap microwavable dinners.
The author sums it up this way:
“FCS, unfortunately, has often found itself on the chopping block by schools forced to make budget cuts. But FCS is far from unnecessary sexist wife-prepping fluff; it’s important stuff that all students will actually, you know, use in their adult lives — not as a method of taking care of your hat-wearing husband’s babies, but to take care of themselves and separating themselves from the money and resource-wasting convenience products that rely on a helpless population to survive. It feels good to take care of yourself! It feels good to save money by making your own food, taking care of your own home, understanding your own basic finances.”
I don’t know about you, but I know a lot of people who never really learned the basics. A lost button means the shirt is ruined and cooking from scratch is the stuff of folklore. I feel like I kind of learned the basics through trial and error myself {and, admittedly, the college of YouTube, when something stumps me to this day}. Maybe a little foundation would go a long way?
I can hear the argument for and against mandatory Home Ec in my head now. Is this something that we should rely on being taught at home or should Home Ec be required? Or maybe, who cares either way?
I’d love to know what YOU think.
~Mavis
Sarah says
I absolutely think that high schoolers should be required to take home economics in order to learn the basics of personal finance, grocery shopping, cooking, taking care of a family, buying a home, etc.
That said, Home & Careers was a joke at our school… We spent the vast majority of the time baking and sewing, which the guys hated and the girls (mostly) already knew how to do. I think it would have been far more valuable if they incorporated more personal finance into it, since that’s something EVERYONE will use on a daily basis. I think it would also be much easier to defend in the annual school budget if the skills we learned were more in line with “real life.”
Levi says
This is exactly why I refused to take it in school. I already knew how to do everything short of making garments by the time I was ten; my mom taught me and my brother all these things growing up. So, seriously why did I need a class for that? I ended up with woodworking, briefly, but it conflicted with architecture classes, and that was the year we were going to do CADkey (architecture software, which I thought was fascinating). Oddly, I am thinking of a home ec college degree now, as I suspect it might help me out in shoring up my rather oddball collection of carer skilks, which I enjoy more than I expected, even though I still hate cleaning and can’t be bothered to knit, crochet, embroider, or sew anything. Lol
Ashley says
I definitely think learning more life skills in high school would be more beneficial than some of the crazy math and biology they teach that 99% of us will never use. Then again, maybe parents should be stepping up and teaching their kids these skills. It doesn’t take a professional to show a teenager how to make spaghetti and balance a checkbook. Might need some outside help to show them how to fold a fitted sheet though, haha!
PattyB says
I taught my boys how to iron, cook, clean, manage money, do laundry, go grocery shopping etc. and told them that they need to be responsible bachelors and if they marry, their wife might not know how to do anything. My daughter just copied me. We both love to cook from scratch. She was easy. AND I think that Family and Consumer Sciences should be mandatory. In my day it was Home Ec and it involved cooking only. Maybe that stigma stands out in school minds and they cut the FCS classes. IMHO.
Carla says
It seems like each and every parent should teach their own children these basic skills. Granted each person will have better abilities in some areas but I’m teaching my 6 and 7 year old boys to cook now, the older kids (both boys and girls) can all do laundry, basic cooking, cleaning (ahem!-some better than others). As they get older they are learning how to manage a checkbook and do some basic banking. I don’t think we should rely on our school system for everything but offering the classes would be great for those who need the skills or perhaps more advanced skills based on interest and ability.
Sheila M. says
Well said Carla.
Unfortunately a current trend seems to be expecting the school system to teach what was once taught in the home. Not every parent chooses to take responsibility for teaching their children these things; so offering the class as an elective, but surely not as a requirement, still has value.
There is a non-profit organization called Junior Achievement that teaches personal and business finance in conjunction with a short term lesson plan taught by school teachers. My kids attended the facility in Auburn, WA in the 5th grade to simulate running a company and earning a paycheck in a program called JA Biztown. Our school district then sends the children on another field trip to the facility to practice personal finance in the 8th grade called JA Finance Park. These are well run programs and I support them as a valuable additions to my children’s education.
Katelyn says
The best 2 classes I took in high school were typing and a class called Personal Management and Finance where we learned about credit cards, getting a lease, buying a car, balancing our checkbook, etc. I don’t know if they’re still offered (I graduated in 1997) but those lessons paid dividends over and over. We are blessed that my husband teaches at a Waldorf school so our daughter attends school there. She is just starting kindergarten but their days include making their own snack, serving each other, washing their linens (they use cloth napkins) and dishes and caring for the animals on the school’s campus. In the upper grades, every student learns to knit and sew; to make things from wood; to do metalwork; and to play a string instrument. These are dying lessons from our culture! The most memorable thing my daughter’s kindergarten teacher said to me is this: “Kindergarten is a place to learn to deal with disappointment. You won’t always get to do your favorite job. Your best friend from yesterday won’t always want to play today. And that’s okay. Children must learn to be okay when things don’t go their way.” Amen!
Shannon says
Katelyn,
I have been saying that young adults should be required to take a class like the one you are describing for years! I got a lot of this type of education at home, but many kids don’t, or their parents never learned this. When I went to college, I taught a few people how to balance a checkbook (not that I use paper checks now very often).
Diana says
Former Home Economics teacher here: Home Economics/FACS is survival skills. When I was teaching, the programs were being cut everywhere. I was constantly feeling the pressure to demonstrate to school officials and parents, that I wasn’t using valuable class time and resources on making stuffed animals and pretty desserts, as my predecessors and H.E. teachers at other schools did. I taught basic consumer skills, child care, garment construction and care, basic food and meal prep, and nutrition. I tied in physical activity and athletics, biology, chemistry, math and business.
The family home, regardless of whether it is a traditional or non-traditional family, is the basic economic unit of our society. Yet most of the last generation or two have not been exposed (through school) to the notion of ‘home management,’ and the role each family member has in making the home meet the needs of its inhabitants. I switched careers and left teaching years ago, but I’ll never abandon my soapbox crusade to convince people of the value of home economics in middle school and high school.
Sarah says
Sounds like you were doing it right!
We definitely spent a lot of time making stuffed animals and pretty desserts… I also remember making a pencil case and a pair of shorts. I always thought it was ridiculous that our school was willing to spend so much time/money on those activities but didn’t bother teaching anything about personal finance or economics. (Even in HS, we could opt out of the 1/2 year Economics class by taking AP Government & Politics.)
sakura says
I think we had the same class! lol!
Alex says
On one hand, you would think that school, at its worst, would at least communicate the basics involved in living in the real world (such as paying your bills, doing laundry, and cooking) to the kids before shoving them out into the real world.
On the other hand, just like everything else in the world, the only way to make sure it’s done right is to do it yourself. It’s fairly obvious that large portions of society are now counting completely on others to raise their children, and then complain when the others don’t “do it right.”
I think part of the responsibility that comes with self-reliance is passing it on to your children. You sure don’t do that if you just passively sit there hoping that their school does it for you.
Dale Ann says
I absolutely agree Home Ec needs to be included in the schools. In High School (the 70’s) my classmates and I were taught the basics of cooking and sewing, something I was very grateful for, as these were not skills I was taught at home.
When our son and daughter were growing my husband and I made sure to take time to teach them both the basics of many areas they would need in their adult life…cooking, sewing, baking, cleaning, good consumer skills, proper manners, construction, repairs, computer skills, etc.. We decided not to rely on what the school may or may not include. We are now happy to assist our adult children in teaching skills that are no longer being taught in school to their children, our grandchildren. They too are extending these skills to our grandchildren’s friends…our teen and soon to be teen grandchildren love to bake or cook when friends visit.
For varied reasons not everyone may have the opportunity for skill learning at home. Home Ec needs to be brought back to the schools!
CathyB says
When I went to school in the 80’s in Oregon every 7th grader was required to take one semester of home ec. and one semester of shop. Both boys and girls. We were also required to take a semester of personal finance in high school. The shop and home ec. focused on more “hands on” skills like cooking, nutrition, meal planning, basic sewing, and basic woodworking. The personal finance dealt more with budgets, balancing checkbooks, investing, etc. I think it was a good idea to have the hands on stuff in middle school and the financial stuff in high school. It seemed to fit well with were we were developmentally.
Cecily says
My three boys (ages 14, 11 and 8) have been taught how to cook, clean, chop wood, do laundry, care for ailing farm animals, plant and care for a garden, price compare at the grocery store and they are learning how to create and stick to a budget. Parents take responsibility and teach your kids the basics! That being said I realize that many parents were never taught these things themselves, and what is basic knowledge to some may seem like a foreign language to others. Schools should also teach the basics of personal finance, cooking and home care (instead of only preparing our kids for college) and encourage the parents who wish to, to sit in on portions of the class. When I was working as a substitute head start teacher, I asked the kids to draw a picture of a chicken. It was disturbing how many of them drew pictures of chicken nuggets. Its sad that we have a whole generation of people who can’t make a basic meal, wash a load of laundry and have no idea where their dinner came from. Off my soapbox now 😉
Wendy Phelps says
My three sons were also taught how to be seld sufficient as were my daughters. Now as adults, they do the magority of the cooking, make the birthday cakes, clean and care for the kids, sew on buttons, garden, do handyman chores etc., as well as work, I have raised three wonderful men who are now great husbands. My family are now raising incredible kids who will be taught to care for themselves and others.
Cheri says
I don’t think that schools should be relied on as the dispensers of all knowledge…not that they can’t offer those classes, but in saying they are mandatory is removing more responsibility from the parents. My kids (11-16) all know how to plan a healthy meal, follow a recipe and cook basic foods for themselves. They all have been taught to use the sewing machine well enough to do simple things like sewing on scout patches. They can work every appliance in the house and know how to do all cleaning jobs. They have all participated in minor home repairs. The three oldest all have checking accounts that they buy their own clothes and pay for activities with. To require them to take a home ec class would be a waste of time…I know because back in high school, I took all the available classes as easy A’s…
Wynne says
People can learn how to cook, clean, and care for their belongings from friends, libraries, and the internet. In PA in the 80s I had to take a couple of years of Home Ec in middle school. The curriculum was weak (a unit on small appliances like fondue pots?) and there was nothing I couldn’t and didn’t learn outside school. Sure, people need to know budgeting and nutrition and like skills, but I don’t have a lot of faith in Home Ec. And I don’t think it’s right to charge public schools with making up any and every shortfall.
Woodshop and metal shop, on the other hand, were tons of fun, and introduced skills that are difficult to pick up without expensive equipment or instruction.
Patty says
I teach English Language Arts in a middle school. In the last few years we have had many cuts and unfortunately, Home Economics (Family and Consumer Sciences) was the first to go. Personally I think this is a huge mistake and a huge disservice to our students, especially in a high poverty district such as the one I work in. When I was in middle and high school I took nearly every Home Ec class I could. I knew how to do many of the skills already, since my mother had taught me how to sew, bake, cook, etc. I loved the classes for the variety of it! I learned new techniques from the teacher. I still remember when we had to make a complete Thanksgiving meal (between all of the classes in the grade level) and we got together to eat what everyone had made! It was such a sense of purpose and being needed for something real! Of all of the classes I took in school, the Home Ec classes are the classes I remember the most…because I use many of the skills that I learned (or that were reinforced) there every single day! This next generation of kids are not learning these skills…and no, I don’t think that they won’t make it through life, but I do think that their lives are less rich because of it!
Christina says
A basic class was required in jr. high for all students. It should be required now! I have 2 kids in their early 20’s and if I had not taught them what I did they wouldn’t know anything. And at least once a week I am shown by one or both of them that I missed something and am having to explain over the phone. (Today it was casserole basics for my daughter). Because of the older two I am maybe going overboard with the younger two.
lilton says
I agree that children are lacking in basic skills. I am a 4-H club leader and am thrilled with the wide variety of projects that 4-H offers that involve basic life skills, and how many of my members are interested in learning them (particularly when they’re not learning them at school). I am currently creating a canning project because one of my pre-teen members decided she wants to learn to can and our state 4-H program no longer offers a canning project. And, soon I will be helping my son (he’s 7 and a cloverbud 4-H member) with his cooking project–I’m ever so pleased he selected that as one of his projects this year! Plus it’s a nice next step for him after his “learning to grow a cabbage plant” projects of the last two years. Even though 4-H is booming in my area, there are still many, many young people that we can’t/don’t reach. So, even though schools/parents don’t always build basic skills, I’m glad 4-H still does!
Mari says
Why wait until high school? Why not be like here in NZ when home Ec classes at age 10 and go thru until about age 14 as course options.
Today’s life is a far cry from having a stay at home mum who sat me on the bench and had me help her with the baking, vegetables etc. Prior to 1980 when equal pay opportunities came in, mum’s did stay at home and raise kids. So we learnt the basics. But today, with the cost of living being so high, both mum and dad work and kids are shoved in child minding services. So, they do not always get the chance to learn the basics. So this deficit falls to the education system…. but then, these home ec classes have run for more than a century here in NZ. My son, now 28, is an expert sewer, baker and cook. He loved the classes as he did metal, engineering and woodwork and home finance. My daughter is the same (31). She can also do car repairs as well as the others. Shes a dab hand with a gas torch too. These things were encouraged at home too and both were taught cooking, gardening and house skills by me as well. But there are many of their age, from other areas, who can’t do the basics, like boil an egg. There is a generation out there who never had parents home, with time to teach them. The school classes are very essential and I think more emphasis should be put on these basic classes, as not everyone is headed for a college education, due to academic abilities or financial restraints.
Here in NZ, gardening is also being introduced at what we call primary school (up to age 11). Children are being taught how to grow vegetables, and then, more importantly, how to cook them. It has become an important part of many school curriculum from age 5 on and some kindergardens and play centres (3-5 yrs). Many service groups also teach gardening to people of all ages – school age to the whole family. It’s a shame that something that used to be just part of life and learning, has now become such a contentious issue.
Christy says
My mom is a retired Home Ec teacher in rural TX. I only had to take her class as an elective in high school (think I took cooking) but I grew up attending her week long summer classes for Jr. High and Elementary school kids that focused on cooking and sewing. I was more impressed in High school to see the variety of classes she taught to Child development, Home Economics (budgeting etc) and Career classes where she taught how to interview and write resumes and basically be a good employee! Once kids got jobs (while in school) she would go around to each employer and check in on how the kid was doing and ‘evaluate’ them for her class! Yep, she can sew and cook up a storm and so can my sisters and I, but more importantly those other skills she taught to the multitude of kids were perhaps even more important.
Unfortunately, when she retired a few years ago, they school just cut the program all together.
Diana says
Great story. Your mom helped build the foundation for healthy, productive lives. That is what happened when I left teaching–they ended the middle school H.E. program, rather than hire a replacement.
Linda H says
I have five sons and made sure that they knew how to do laundry, basic mending, cooking (even taught them to make bread) and other housekeeping chores and home repair. We took time to teach them about money management. They are now all husbands and fathers and work as a team with their wives to take care of the family. I think it is as important as it is to teach daughters to be independent. My husband knew these skills and was a better cook than me when we got married. More than once a daughter-in-law has thanked me for doing that for her! All youth need to learn these basic learning skills and if the schools don’t do it, the parents need to do and should do it.
Lisa says
Personal finance – yes.
Home ec – no.
Personal finance is sometimes taught as part of the usual senior curriculum of Economics. Many classes form mock family units with “budgets” and jobs etc.
But, home ec is, and should remain, an elective. I never took it, yet learned to cook, clean, sew, etc.
Parents should be spending time with their children, and what better way than having fun cooking, sewing etc? Schools should not be responsible for everything!
Just like I have no interest in changing my car’s tires if I get a flat, or jump starting the battery (I have AAA for that), not everyone is interested in home ec! There are a scant number of years to choose electives, and unless you really want to take it, home ec is not, in my opinion, a good choice. Of course, all the kids who did take it just wanted an easy class!
Renee A. says
Oh my gosh,yes,yes and YES!!!! Home Ec. was one of my all time fave classes b/c I dreamed of being a housewife with kids all my life so I looked forward to learning to sew,cook,etc. I was actually my teacher’s fave b/c only I could tolerate our teacher who looked like a housewife from the ’50’s with a big ol’ beehive hairstyle. I gained a lot of independence in that class and I learned I could do a lot. I was so excited to go home and takeover but my dad didn’t want me cooking dinner, he said it was a wife’s job so I was delegated to making desserts…which i didn’t mind at all, but I always wanted to do more but couldn’t. My mom never really taught me anything…..I knew how to take care of babies by watching my mom take care of my younger siblings, but once I was married I couldn’t cook a thing for years (youtube could have helped me so much back then!!) I wish the classs would have continued through high school b/c I would have taken it for sure. Some things you leearn by watching your parents but sometimes things do need to be taught. I remember when my mom and brother visited us a few years ago she was terrified of th knife I was using to cut up the steak (it wasn’t nearly as big as I see most people have) yet she didn’t like me using ir or even want my brother around it & I felt like she was doing him a dissrvic by making him scared of somthing in th kitchen that he shouldn’t be scared of since he would have to cut meat some day when he goes out on his own & she hasn’t taught him or my siblings any living skills to prepare us for raising a family, so if parents aren’t doing it, then they should have a mandatory class. My girls have all been learning how to cook at home (we homeschool and my oldest two go to online university) and they have really taken a liking to doing domestic skills….youtube has helpd them make fabulous food that even I was too chicken to try. They usually have success but with the failures, they have figured out what should be done next time so it comes out better, that type of thinking is important when raising a family….you may need to do things differently so you experiemnt until something works. After almost 20 years of marriage I am now doing what I wish I could have done when I was first married…make things from scratch (including deodorant and toothpaste),learning to crochet,still learning dinner dishes that we will all like, I now have to learn about gluten free cooking thanks to an allergic daughter,organizing my time more wisely so I have time with my kids,etc. I just feel with all the knowledge I have now….if I would have had it earlier, I would have been a much better wife/mother. When my husband mmoved out of state before us I also had to learn to take care of the car on my own, so I learned about tire pressure and how to fill up the tires,how to pump gas ( I was always scared to do that!) and I also larned how to add washer fluid and a few other things, so basically I do feel that we or somebody should teach all kids how to do these things…in comes under the budgeting category b/c unless the kid is rich, they may not always afford to have someone else always do the work for them & why pay someone else to do a simple task you can do on your own?
Renee A. says
please excuse my typos above, my keyboard is having problems. 🙂
Jeananne Lybbert says
I teach FCS classes to junior high students and I see a HUGE need for these classes. I ask my students how long in their life they plan to eat-when they tell me “Until I die” , I tell them that that is my point…I feel that most FCS classes are actually Life Skills classes-something you will and should use all of your life. It will save you TONS of money and help you be healthier. The state I live in has even mandated a class called “Financial Literacy”. All students must take it before they can graduate. They have to fill out a tax return, learn about credit cards, etc. Some naysayers like to say FCS subjects are old-fashioned and not relevant-those statements couldn’t be more false! Nothing is more relevant! Thanks for letting me get up on my soapbox a little. I just discovered you blog a week or so ago and i LOVE it. It’s fast becoming my favorite and the first thing I check as soon as I get on the computer. Keep up the great work!
Stacy M. says
YES! This is yet another example of where we are allowing people who know nothing about child development to destroy the integrity of our schools. FACS was dropped from our school several years ago – it was an internal political move that was passed off as a “budget” issue. Before that Industrial Technology was dropped. For many students who can shine in areas outside of conventional academic areas, it means they have very few options left to be successful in school. It also means that many students don’t know how to cook for themselves or sew a button back on to a shirt. Yes, parents could teach these things at home, and many do. I have a teenage boy, though, and I can tell you that there are times where I can scream the same information that someone else can tell him in a whisper (and the other person is BRILLIANT for sharing the information, of course…). I also know that cooking, eating, cleaning and learning to sew together gives kids a sense of camaraderie, as well as giving students who have talent in these areas a sense of confidence from being able to teach their peers. To me, these types of skills are much more important than getting more “data points” from yet another standardized test. Unfortunately for the current educational climate in the United States, these are not skills that can be measured by a standardized test; critical thinking, working together for common goals, and life skills may seem superfluous, but are actually skills that allow students to excel and succeed in multiple areas after they graduate from high school, not just in academic settings.
Wendi says
Wow, I was just kneading bread this morning and thinking back to when I first learned to bake bread. My mom didn’t bake anything so it certainly wasn’t from her…and my grandmother…best we not go there. Yup, it was in my 7th grade Home Economics class. We (just girls back in my day) learned how to cook AND sew. I would have enjoyed shop class as well -woodworking and metal – but that was boys only. My father taught me budgeting in grade 5 and knowing how to file a simple tax return and balance a check was taught in grade 12 and were skills required for graduation. I believe those classes were valuable in preparing me for real life and I would support my tax dollars going toward teaching young people valuable life skills.
Lisa says
When I attended high school in the early 1980’s I attended an elective class called “single living”. That was the most useful and relevant class that I’ve ever had. We learned about nutrition, basic cooking skills, basic cleaning and ironing. We learned how to properly write a check and how to balance the account. Our final project consisted having an imaginary job and salary given to us, creating a budget, finding an apartment that we could afford, determining how much we could afford to spend on furniture after expenses. We ended with a field trip to a local furniture store to “buy” our furniture. I heard the class was cancelled after I graduated. My local school system has eliminated those classes due to budget cuts. Since they seem to have to cut the budget even more each year I do not see it being added back in. My local schools flat out admit that they are eliminating paper. New texts are online, using iPads and laptops etc (and this is an area where the major industry revolves around paper). As parents we will have to make the time to teach these skills to our kids and if we don’t possess a particular skill maybe we should learn it together or at least show them where the resources are to learn the skill. Our responsibility as parents is to teach our kids the skills they need for adulthood. Why make the transition more difficult. It was great for me to learn these skills in school because I didn’t learn them at home. Mom worked full time and it was just easier and quicker for her to do things by herself according to her. What I did not learn in school, I learned by trial and error. At 48 I’m still learning. I do teach my kids but I wish they knew more. we have a lot of catching up to do.
Heather says
I think it should be required. Our daughter had a semester class in 8th grade – she learned to sew on buttons, basic (scratch) cooking, etc. At least she also had me to teach her cooking, etc, but not all of the kids had mom’s that cooked let alone sewed. The class was removed from our school district a few years ago – now if you want to learn to sew you have to join the 4-H class.
Erin Wilson says
Lots of opinions on this subject lol.
My mum has never been the domestic sort. I’m still grateful, decades later, for the skills I learned in home ec classes. Absolutely essential life skills, if you want to be a healthy, creative, self-reliant adult. I think it’s a mistake to believe that all parents can teach these skills, because many parents don’t have the skills to teach!
That said… as someone who hired and managed high-school and college-aged students for twenty years, I do think there is a massive role that families should be playing but often aren’t. I was consistently stunned (and frankly disgusted) that I had to teach folks in their 20’s (male and female) how to do basic tasks like wash dishes, vacuum a floor, clean a toilet, etc. because they’d never done it before in their lives. I know their parents thought they were doing their kids a favour, allowing them to focus on school. But how does it help your child to deny them the skills to look after themselves?! I don’t know… it still baffles me.
Jane says
Yikes, when I saw the title of this portion of the blog I couldn’t wait to see the comments! It’s not surprising that the people that are reading the articles, topics, and basic interests here in Mavis’ blog are (as a rule) in favor of some sort of education of our youth with their daily self survival. I am absolutely amazed at the lack of self ambition, and motivation to do anything if there’s not immediate gratification on the other end of the task when it comes to the kidults out there. I teach at the jr college level and the range of ages as well as ethnicities is wonderful. The one thing that all of these 18-47 year old people have in common is that they will do nothing for themselves if it’s not assigned, or penalized if it’s not done. There’s something about learning typing, learning how to balance a checkbook, sew curtains or a button, garden, how to compose a resume, or any of the great life skills that are learned in these courses that create some self motivation. I agree that typing was without fail the most important class I ever was FORCED to take in High School and I’m ever so grateful that I did. To this day, my spelling is wonderful, my grammar at least adequate, and (let’s face it) I can text with the best of them!! I have students in my class that are unable to spell even the most simple of words that my 10 year old daughter has on her 5th grade spelling test. It’s all about entitlement today. It’s owed to them. No hard work, no pride in one’s work….. perhaps we’re the only ones that can bring it back. Hmmmmm
Sandra says
Absolutely yes!!!!! It should be an option in school! As a high school teacher it is not being taught at home, like many things unfortunately. Students need to be educated on the necessities of basic living. I had HE in middle school and high school. I also took wood shop. I was the only girl in that class. I felt those things were important and like many of my students I was not learning it at home. I am so thankful to those teachers!
Jillbert says
I definitely think that all kids could use some practical knowledge in their education. That said, my son & daughter who both took home ec in middle school laugh about the food they were taught to cook — all highly processed, packaged stuff. Not like at home where we make REAL bread, etc. We all realize we’re not the norm, but too bad that the pancake recipe wasn’t more complicated than adding mix & water together. 🙂
butterflyweed says
When my son and daughter arrived at college, both of them ended up teaching other kids in the dorm how to do laundry. People sent kids off to college with no knowledge of how to clean their clothes! They were just standing in front of the machines dumbfounded. My kids showed up with detergent, bleach and both liquid and sheet fabric softner. They showed kids how to separate, what to bleach, what to line dry. They were shocked as both had been doing all of their own laundry since about age 14.
Katie says
I went to a small, rural high school in the 80s. There weren’t many options for electives, so I took about every home ec class that was offered. It was that or welding, which wasn’t happening. Now, due to food allergies, I make all of our meals from scratch, and multiple times a day, I am thankful for my home ec classes and the kind teacher who taught them. I may never again use the calculus that I learned, but I use the skills from home ec multiple times a day. We all need to eat everyday, and pay our bills, if you don’t have a parent who cares about cooking or nutrition, or imparts the basics of personal finance, it’s pretty hard to learn those skills on your own.
Jill Frank says
I actually had these classes in middle school. Not so much on the finances – those were actually taught in 4th grade – yes – 4th grade! Our teacher did a whole class project, “Mini Mall in the Hall”. We each had to create a store that sold something (then we cut out pictures from magazines, etc and created the store on a poster board). We had to set prices for each item. We were then each given 10 checks and a budget and had to do Christmas shopping for our families.
In middle school EVERYONE had to take cooking, sewing, metal, and woods classes. Looking back, these classes gave me the foundation I needed to have the courage to learn more. I am all in favor of having these classes taught – at just about any age. There is no reason these skills can’t be incorporated into the curriculum – it is easy to combine them with math and reading lessons. And yes, We are teaching our children because the schools won’t.
Cat says
I find it irritating when people assume that everyone between the ages of 20 and 40 is an immature, helpless, selfish semi-human. Please stop talking about us like that. The recent push for urban homesteading, for example, is largely driven by people my age reacting to our parents’ failure to teach us basic life skills. So, yes, we didn’t learn these things from you old people, but its not because we’re lazy or sad or bad, but because our parents were the first generation where both parents needed to work full time. (Although, I actually learned most life skills by about 10. My mother is a big believer in “Oh you want to complain about how I ___? Here, you do it yourself.” I’ve been making a full Thanksgiving dinner (for 30) since I was 12.)
Moreover, I’ve worked in many school districts now in both Southern and Northern CA metro areas and I promise you that most home ec classes are not teaching the things you think they should be. You won’t see household economics or learning how to interpret financial documents (mortgages, anyone?). Sewing involved needles and those could be weapons, so definitely none of that. Cooking, for liability reasons(FIRE!), is often limited to microwave or toaster oven projects. Even if they do bake, it’s only things that can be made with Bisquick (which makes remarkably disgusting “pizza”). It would be great if they actually taught kids to take care of themselves, but the reality is most don’t and that precious money could be better spent elsewhere.
Janice says
I think it should be mandatory!!!! I loved the classes and learned so many valuable life lessons in it. I made both of my boys take it and they both can cook and do basic sewing We also when I went to school had to do “shop” class I can wire a lamp,use a hammer and saw and do basic home repairs. Math classes can be combined with these skills Cooking requires fractions as does woodworking
Megan says
Hey! I teach Family and Consumer Sciences at our local high school. Maybe I’m biased, but I feel there is a HUGE need for these classes with our youth. Some say that parents should be teaching these skills, and kuddos to the parents who have the time, energy and resources after working hard all day, to then teach their kids. Honestly, this is the ideal, but it is not realistic in the times we live. Even if all “good” parents did this, what about the kids who come from a less than perfect home life, who hardly have interaction with an adult role model? These are the children that NEED classes offered by FCS.
It is heart warming to read some of these other comments and see that I am not alone in my opinion! Thanks for sharing Mavis.
Cheralee says
I am so sad to see how many people can confirm that these classes are gone from their schools. My 15 yo son was offered a homesteading elective this year, with canning, weaving, gardening and cooking, as well as basic carpentry and masonry. He ended up not taking that class (probably because I was jumping up and down, shouting “Easy A, dude!” And he was afraid I would ask to be a guest teacher. 🙂 He bakes from scratch, can sew (thank you, scout uniform!) and is the number #1 reason anything gets done around here. All of those skills, I taught him. The only drawback (maybe?) is that he isn’t interested in any girls that can’t demonstrate skills of their own. I can’t wait to see who he brings home. My 11yo daughter has HE this year and just yesterday, came home upset. They were asked to plan an easy, quick healthy meal. The other kids had Mac & cheese, fish sticks, etc. (Not bad at all, but we try to make homemade.). She said quinoa with grated Parmesan, marinated chicken tenders, and green beans. She showed how these items were just as fast as the others and how to plan ahead for leftovers, but the teacher only commented she didn’t know what quinoa was. So, my girl didn’t get as high a grade on her project. It really shed some light on the quality of the HE classes that ARE available. When a teacher docks a grade because she doesn’t know what an ingredient is, I have little faith in what she is going to pass on to the students. Thank goodness, my kids are well-informed, that I have the skills, time and desire to show them both how to do these tasks and that I am willing to go to bat for them. I did chat with the teacher. After suggesting she Google quinoa, the grade was adjusted.
Kayla Pins says
I’m so excited that you featured this article and to see all of the positive comments encouraging FACS to remain in schools! I am a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher myself, and there is a great demand for many more. It’s very rewarding to teach students skills that will improve their lives and the lives of their families. It’s too bad that it’s not a required course (at least at my high school) but that means all of the kids are happy to be there. It’s the best high school content area to teach!
Stacey says
Current FCS teacher here. What we teach are LIFE SKILLS. I see from the comments that many of you teach your children the basic skills taught in many FCS classes, but you are in the minority. Students may not ever need some if the things they learn in their “more important” core classes, but the skills they learn in “home ec” are things that they will use in their every day lives.
Anne says
I find the posts interesting on this blog. I never realized that so many people have bad experiences and thoughts about Family and Consumer Science. I am sorry to hear that some have had poor experiences as when I was in home economics, it brought me out of my shell-I never even talked in class or would answer any questions until I found this program in my high school. Home economics helped me to see that I had many skills that could allow me to move myself out of poverty in my future as I came from a single parent home where my mother had to work nights for us to SURVIVE! She was a wonderful mother but was not able to invest the time in her children as she wished she could because I had a father who decided to bail on his children leaving her to earn the only income.
I am also surprised by the opinions that FCS is unnecessary. Fortunately I have a lot of support in my community as an FCS teacher. My students are expected to prepare foods from scratch, we use donated produce in the fall from families who have an overabundance of these garden foods. My students figure out creative tasteful ways to use food that is available. With obesity, and the many life style (poor food and activity choices/consequences) FCS is really quite essential to a healthier nation.
My students cater/sponsor many community events such as breakfast for veterans on Veterans’ Day, a special lunch for retired educators, and serve a complete dinner as part of our schools theatrical production to pay for purchases in our commercial kitchen. Students assist in deciding what type of appliance to purchase and consider health benefits, impact on the environment, and costs over time to make these decisions. Students train in employability skills for hospitality as well as health careers and work in community businesses/medical facilities as part of my program to build these essential life and career skills.
Every summer I teach enrichment classes where children learn the basics of food safety and sanitation as early as 4 years old to grade 8. We go to the berry patch, pick berries (learning where food comes from other than the store!), clean and store berries, and then learn how to use them in healthy recipes. I teach simple sewing classes for 3rd-8th grade students learn basic stitching, sewing on buttons, etc. as they make simple felt pillows. They learn to help others and how to explain how to make a knot, how to thread the needle or what ever their partner is needing help to complete their project. They learn to take pride in having skills and accomplishing a project. Most of all my students learn patience and respect as they wait their turn when classes range in size from 33 to 45 with one teacher.
FCS has changed over time to meet the demands of our communities and especially our children. I encourage those who had unhappy experiences to explore changes in their local programs and hope you will see the value the program brings to children and our future health of our nation.
Mavis says
I love that you teach those classes in the summer. They are so important!
Jennifer Webster says
Should high schools require home ec or family and consumer sciences? I think we should ask why it should be required? This curriculum is a life skill used in every day aspects of life. The domestic services people pay for daily is not only of convenience or because they have reached a socio-economics level to merit that luxury but from ignorance. In a time when independence is delayed, we are seeing so much costly services paid for and laziness comes to mind. This is going back a few generations but we don’t have parents with these skills to teach their children and it is a lost trade skill. The service laborer was once viewed with a sneer, but today these services are costing individuals money they can’t afford to spend. Yes, it should be required and parents should require their children to enroll in classes that they can’t provide these skills. See you in class!
Cassie says
FCS needs to stay in schools but it doesn’t have to be mandatory. I think every student should have a semester or 2 of life skills, but I don’t think we should force it or else we will run into issues. It is awesome that so many parents do teach their kids the basic skills, but there are so many out there that don’t do it too!! And with the horrific fast food and processed food era that we are going through, our kids need to be educated on the harm that these foods are doing to their bodies. They need to be shown how to make homemade, whole food instead. I tie in grain free and sugar free foods too to show them healthy doesn’t always mean gross. Also, FCS offers so many other important opportunities, like how to speak in front of a group, not to mention all of the other classes besides cooking and sewing.
Michelle says
Here is what I tell my students: your core teachers {English, Math, Science, History} teach you what you need to know; I show you how it applies to real life. I teach how to use Pythagorean thereom to design angled walls for an angled ceiling to give your room an interesting visual effect {math} or why water boils faster with salt {science} or how what is going on in the world determines what textiles are available {history} or how to research a job and create a cover letter and resume for your future career {English}. These are all skills and knowledge that teach the importance and value of all subjects.