I learned to sew when I was about 8 or 9. 5 of us neighbor kids would go to J.C. Penney's and buy 1/4 yd. of different fabrics to make doll clothes. Then in junior high...7th,8th and 9th grade we had 2 double periods a week of sewing and cooking. I got away from sewing till I was a senior in high school and my best friend made all of her clothes...so I started back with help from her. I DID want to wear what I made...lol.
They still have home ec in schools here in the Harrisburg, PA area...they call it something else though. All of my grandkids now ages 16-19 had sewing and also woodshop. Yep...boys sew and girls make wooden projects. My husband said when he was in high school they taught everyone some basic sewing...he graduated in '69. I graduated from another school in '67 and girls were not allowed to take auto mechanics, woodshop etc. And I don't think boys could take Home-Ec.
My daughter took Culinary Arts in high school and went to Vo-Tech...1/2 day at Vo-Tech. Bussed from her home school to vo-tech and then back to home school for regular classes. Her daughter...my grandaughter...is a junior this year and her school district built it's own vo-tech school so no bussing back and forth. She is also in Culinary Arts and LOVES it. She just got a nice job because her teachers gave her a high recommendation...and only there a month and got a promotion. Oh...and she also loves to sew. IF I break down later next spring and buy a new sewing machine...she is hoping that I do...then I told her I will give her my Elna.