I took Home Ec in the 70s, too. I remember hating it!
I already knew how to cook and sew, and it seemed that the teacher made it so much more complicated than it needed to be! I do agree, however, that a life skills course is needed in school--many students don't have the experience needed in the real world for planning, shopping, and preparing food; for basic sewing; for household budgeting; etc. It would, of course, be best learned at home as a real-world skill, but in many cases, that just doesn't happen.