solstice3

They cut it out in my district years ago. It is a shame as many students get no basic instructions in cooking at home beyond stick it in the microwave and sewing ...it isn't happening! I know there is a need for advanced academic classes but we need to teach them basic survival skills

jmoore

as sad as it is, most schools do not offer a Home Ec class... I know they say budget cuts and money were the reason, but honestly, I have retained more from my Home Ec experience than I ever did from Trigonometry and use more of the lessons taught in home ec than I need today from my science class where we dissected frogs...

Amythyst02

Not offered here anymore ... that I am aware of. My granddaughter starts high school next year, but did not have any sewing related classes in Jr. High. My grandson graduated from HS a few years ago and I do not remember him taking shop or anything like that, and I am sure he would have if it were offered. I sure wish they did offer these things, they need them in their everyday lives. I am not sure they teach typing anymore either...even if it is a computer etc, typing is pretty handy to know...

Kris P

Our district has a Home Ec type of class in 7th grade. I helped the neighbor girl pick out the items last year before school started. In the sewing portion, they make a pair of cotton boxer shorts.
I remember home ec in junior high in the mid 80's. My mom taught me to sew much earlier for 4-H sewing projects. I recall the home ec teacher getting a little exasperated because I kept zipping through all the assignments while my classmates were still working on the first couple of seams.

NanaCindyLou

I took Home Ec in the late 60's and absolutely HATED the sewing. I didn't touch a sewing machine for another 40 years! Finally realized that I didn't have to sew clothing, bought a nice basic machine, decided to give myself a break and just have fun. I have had so much fun (and of course, some blood, sweat & tears). LOL

IraJane

I was a Home Ec. teacher for 31 years, retiring 10 years ago this spring, first at a jr-sr high school and then at the middle school with 5th thru 8th graders. The high school had a really strong program with not only a couple years of foods and sewing classes that could be taken for 4 years, but consumer science, housing, marriage, parenting, etc.... classes. My 5th graders learned to use the machine and made a pocket wallhanging that hung on the inside of their lockers. 6th graders made a drawstring bag that most used for gym clothes. 7th graders did mostly food from scratch but also had a second class that was community service. The 7th and 8th graders worked in groups to make small pieced quilt tops, that we backed with fleece and tied, for kids we donated to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. The regular 8th grade class made a zippered gym bag. Once state wide testing got a grip on schools, they stressed those core subjects that were being tested. I worked hard to especially reinforce math at every opportunity. One of my main goals was to help children gain confidence in the area of "life". As long as I was teaching at the middle school and the high school had a trained teacher, the program at our high school continued to be strong. When that teacher left, they were unable to find a qualified teacher. Once that happened the program there was slowly dying. Once I retired and was not replaced with a qualified teacher, the middle school program died. I believe at some point future generations will again see the importance of strengthening families. My principal was in a discussion with other principals at a meeting when one questioned why we were still teaching skills since everyone eats out now. My principal's answer was in support of my program and "teaching" so they know how.

IraJane

We still have several schools in Indiana that continue to teach "life" skills......under the umbrella of Family and Consumer Science.

quiltmom04

Some do - some don't. It's called Family and Consumer Science (FACS) now. Our middle school has it , but it has changed dramatically from when I was in school. There's cooking and a little bit of hand sewing, and clothing design and home dec all done on a computer. High school FACS is an elective and if the student is college-bound, there's no room in the schedule to take it. I'm surprised that basic living skills like those taught in home Ec. aren't considered important enough to continue, while taking a foreign language ( which I've never used outside that classroom) is.

twinkie

Our local schools do offer Home Ec, however, like most classes today, you have to pay for the class.

lclang

None in our area so the kids can neither cook nor sew, have no idea how to keep house or balance a checkbook unless the parents intervene. some of our grandkids live on fast foods, boxed mixes, etc. Makes me sad to think about the creativity they are missing. The shop classes are gone too so they don't know how to change oil or hang a picture. Sad!