I am lucky that I had Home Ec classes in Junior High. I remember that the textbooks were from the 50's (this was 1970), but the teacher was excellent. We learned to make jumpers and skirts. I still remember laying out patterns and learning what all the symbols were. We also did some cooking and meal planning. The end of the year, we had a fashion show for our parents. We did the food as well as the show. I had a mother who sewed, but she did not have the patience to teach me. My sewing skills were honed by a friend's mother who also worked at the Singer store.
The emphasis on standardized testing to receive federal funds and general budget cuts have impacted the students in a negative way. Practical arts are few and far between. I am a retired biology teacher and was amazed at the skills my students were lacking. They couldn't tell time unless it was a digital display, measure with a ruler, or follow written directions. These skills were reinforced in my home ec classes.