Home Economics in school? - Page 3

sweetee2 · ‎06-21-2015

I also took sewing and home Ec., which I loved. I continued sewing all through high school, also making a tailored jacket. Which I eventually lead to a career as a Men's Tailor which served my family very well.

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

Our schools no longer have home economics or shop. I guess kids are too busy taking courses such as advanced mathematics and science that they will never use.

Hooty · ‎03-09-2010

I took Home Ec. in the 8th grade, did not really learn that much in sewing (my grandmother taught me to sew), but the other half of the year we did cooking and I really enjoyed that. They also had Home Ec. in HS, but it was mostly for girls that were going on to college to become teachers.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@chihuahuamom wrote:
If you didn't grow up in the 50's and 60's you may not have ever had this subject in school. I took it in 7th and 8th grade (I think it was an elective but not sure). Anyway, what we learned was pretty much useless even back then. Sewing included making an apron and a dress (my mother wound up making both), learning about different wax and had to wax a floor,cooking something you'd never eat.....I'm sure there was a lot more, but don't remember. I do remember that we'd better finish up what we were doing by the time the bell rang (mostly cooking) and clean up.

Times are SO different now with all our conveniences and how easy it is to grab fast food. So many women work outside the home and who waxes floors anymore?

If we had home economics today, what should be taught? (I am assuming home ec is no longer taught but maybe I'm wrong?). I would suggest how to put together easy meals in a short time, tips on keeping rooms tidy,, balancing a home budget......

I have always felt schools should have life skills classes for kids in high school. They should teach financial skills, how loans work, facts about home ownership--like taxes and things associated with having a home, keeping clothing clean and organized, basic income tax, talk about charities and how they work--how to help in your community, citizen responsibility, things like that.

Some kids are totally unaware of these things and at least they would have a place to start. These should be offered through high schools AND VO-Tech schools for those who have graduated and may need to know some of these things.

I HATED sewing. Mother loved it, was wonderful at it and even had me take lessons outside home ec. But I hated it, HATED wearing home-made clothing (although my mom was very skilled and considered the best around), and hated the mess it made most of all.

Leu · ‎07-18-2010

I took both home ec and wood shop in eighth grade (87-88), they were required courses for everyone in the district. Home Economics was mostly cooking, no sewing at all, and a little about budgeting. I preferred shop class. My parents still have the bookshelf I made hanging in the wall. They don't have what my brother and sister made because their projects fell apart.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

I also had to take Home Ec in the 7th & 8th grade. From what I remember for cooking we made breakfasts which were kind of boring and in sewing we all had to make a skirt (all girls then of course) and the last day actually wear it! LOL!

Mine looked awful and I only put it on for the class but took it off as soon as it was over!

Libbylady · ‎03-09-2010

I recall HE in junior high school. Girls had to take it and boys had to take Shop.

My mother was an excellant seamstress and made many of our clothes. She taught my sister & I to sew and we both got our own machines at age 16. We also had to choose our silverware patterns at 16.... doesn't that say a lot!!

Anyway, sewing my own clothing served me well in college and early marriage. This was the time of "tent dresses" and "shifts", and the new "bonded knits". Not much fitting had to be done for these styles, so I could knock out a dress on Friday for a Saturday date.

Most of the girls in the college dorm sewed and living near the fabric shops in downtown Philly was quite a plus. One of our girls grew up to be Adrienne Vitadini!!

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@sandy53 wrote:
Now called Family and Consumer Sciences, it is still very strong in my state. It is part of vocational and technical education. In my local school it includes courses in culinary arts, child development, interior design, textiles and clothing, and personal development. Teachers graduating in FCS from our state university are in strong demand.

@sandy53Thanks. Family and Consumer Sciences is what I retired from in 2009 after 36 years.

Pook · ‎03-20-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:
My home economics experience was quite different from the OP's. We had the sewing and cooking... no floor waxing or other silliness. So the programs have been discontinued and we now have a generation who panic when a Denim & Co pant is too long, not knowing they can hem it in 30 minutes. They're scared to death of pressure cookers and have no idea of what their advantages are. Sad because this practical information is needed.

Who in this generation would be buying Denim & Co pants??

I get what you're saying about the sewing though. My SO's daughter and her husband don't know how to even sew a button on and I got them a sewing kit and they had no idea how to use anything in it and have never used it. If they loose a button they either throw the item out or send i to a seamstress to do.

leighagemini · ‎06-15-2013

A Home Ec type class needs to still be offered but no in the little house on the prarie days of old. Teach to shop on a budget, cook simple and quick meals, financial skills