Originally Posted by pjnesler
First my Grandmother taught me lots when I went to visit her as a child. At first she would let me go through her scraps to sew pillows, snakes, simple things. Later she did teach us kids to sew more advanced items, so Home Ec in school was much easier to grasp. I loved my Home Ec teachers, they were very caring, and helpful and even now I think of how much what they taught us kids was so important to what we do every day at home and work. It's sad to think that so many schools have done away with this important class, as well as "SHOP" for the boys to learn wood working and such. I recall towards the end of the school year going to school on a special night where students from Art - HomeEc - Shop all had their projects on display for parents to see the work of their kids and fellow class mates. Coats, dresses, slacks, gun cabinets, coffee tables, clocks, paintings..... there was a huge display for all to see. Now it is so limited, I wonder how much creativity is lost due to cutbacks to fund these extreamly important classes.
What you said there at the end made me think...lol. My husband took Building Trades in high school and he worked for several construction companies. Then he became an electrician but he still would work in all other phases but plumbing. Because of this he was able to remodel homes we lived in and finally after 25 years of marriage HE built our beautiful dream home. He had people come to help but HE was the general contractor since he had designed our home too. Because of his building and electrical skills his best friend called him and said that he had been promoted to Maintenance Supervisor and would hubby be interested in becoming the Ass't Maintenance Supervisor for a school district. He said yes...got the job because of his knowledge and his friend just retired in June as Facilities Director and my hubby was promoted to the job.
A younger friend of ours worked summers with hubby for one of the construction companies. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do with his life...he really loved carpentry and building trades. He would ask hubby a million questions. He ended up going to college to teach...building trades. Also my hubby and him and another guy have done many moonlighting jobs to refinish basements, add rooms etc. So...it's also a GREAT way to make extra money.
All of that to say...we CAN'T lose these arts. Where would we be without plumbers, electricians, builders, auto mechanics, fashion designers, gourmet cooks in restaurants etc. They all had to learn from classes they took in school. So we can't let these type of jobs become a dying art.
Sorry for being so long winded but... I hate to hear that school districts throw away these classes.