Daylesewblessed

It is true that high school curriculums have eliminated many classes in home economics, art, and music. I only wish that it meant that its "concentration" in the basics meant that our students actually could read, write, do math, and problem solve better than in the past. Sadly, I don't think that it is so.

AZ Jane

Their concentration is on passing the tests, not learning.

ging10ging

I think we need to go back to some of the basics children don't realize how to do things unless they are taught. I'm glad we had home ec I learned a lot from my teacher and still remember her well. I think sports are good but how do you know how to be a homemaker? Sue

QuiltnLady1

DS took both woodshop and domestic arts in middle school in the late 80's. He made some wonderful sewing items as well as some great wood items.

The town I live in now had Domestic Arts until a couple of years ago but the sewing was dropped a couple of years ago.

stampinteresa

I know each area is different when it comes policies and curriculum. Our area that I still work in has home economics now called FACS - Family and Consumer Sciences. This includes: Nutrition, Independent Living, Child Development to name a few. Yes, they still learn to cook, learn to sew and the final sewing project is a pair of pajama pants. They still have machines in cabinets and some portables. The care of the machines is hard for the county. Also, I am sorry someone said that a school there daughter or friend was in let them get away with .... in these classes. That would not happen at our school. You can have fun but learn respect. In Child Dev. they have the opportunity to carry the egg or a computerized baby.
It is different from what many of us grew up on; but I am 53 and it was changing during my last two years of high school. (Now my old high school teaches a unit on mending and taking care of your clothes but more time on the Nutrition and cooking. They have a few portable machines.)
Our school also continues to teach the shop classes where the students make some very impressive things. However, they must pass safety and usage tests for each and every machine before they can use them. They teach architectual drafting on the computers...very cool. It is one of the reasons my cousin went to VA Tech to study design in architecture??? They have ag classes for our farm boys and girls. FFA( Future Farmers of America) is a big part in our community as well.
As Juniors and Seniors, the students have the opportunity to interview for placement in courses at our technology and science center (what we would call vocational school). They offer many but here are a few: Cosmotology, CNA, LPN, masonary, carpentry, construction, auto body, auto mechanics, child care, ROTC and computer classes. Most of these classes offer the students the opportunity to take state licensure tests.
The school also has many programs for advanced placement and dual enrollment classes for the more college minded students. As for the sports, those students have to have a certain grade point to be eligible to play and class conduct problems are taken to the coach if the student needs a second reminder. I am proud of our school.
As for people wanting to learn to sew and craft; I do this in my home and through organizations in my church, It is a way of giving back. I think I shared on the vintage thread that while here in Indy; I have been teaching my step-sis to sew and she brought an old sewing machine over and I thought it was great and offered to buy it. She gave it to me for the lessons. It is a 1950 Singer featherweight. So you give and sometimes good things come back. Teresa

Treasureit

Mom's can teach their kids to sew...at least give them a taste of it. When my girls were in 6 & 7th grades they each made a dress. They loved it and wore it. They didn't do much else after that, but they each asked for a sewing machine for a wedding after they were married. Now they can both sew. One has even made a couple baby quilts and can create bags and things w/out a pattern...all that from just one sewing session!

Anyone who is willing to teach a sewing class would be a real asset to the community. I think Joanns offers some basic teen classes in our area....maybe not in other areas though.

seamstome

Many of our schools have it as an elective. I was in line at Joann's and a junior high age boy was there with his mom picking up fabric for a book bag. They teach foods, sewing and child care. Now the emphasis is on childcare and cooking which is how it should be.

We also have culinary arts, CNA classes, house building program, fire/police cadets, and a printing/graph arts program.

Our community college is working in coordination with the HS's to set up programming so the students can get double credit

Let's face it rarely does anybody sew a piece of clothing anymore.

stampinteresa

I still sew clothing. Already have patterns in my head for a great neice and her summer wardrobe.

Suze9395

I live in a small town. My daughter is a Jr. Over the past couple years, she has taken a few different agri classes. Yesterday afternoon she showed my husband some of what she had learned by installing the new ceiling fan in her bedroom (he played safety supervisor!). She did a fantastic job. Our school does not offer the advanced classes, like welding, but they do have an agreement with the school in the next town over and they are able to bus our kids over there for those classes. My son is a Sr and loves his art teacher and her classes--the school regularly has winners at both the state and national level. (he has 2pieces being sent this year...fingers crossed!)

I guess what I am trying to say is, there are still schools out there that offer these types of classes and I am very thankful to have stumbled into this one. If you have kids in school and aren't happy with the district, shop around.

maryfrang

In Missouri the schools have a class that teaches students for job interviews, finances for personnel (balancing check books, mortgages etc) what different jobs and careers are and what they would like to do. They call the class FACTs. Some of the schools around here do still have a sewing project (pillow) cooking and also child care. There still is woodworking classes offered. We do have schools that do not have any sewing machines and do not do any type of needlework in either high or middle school (Jr. High). I am glad there is still 4H and they do still show home needlework projects. In fact I have signed up to volunteer to teach sewing and quilting.