What is Home Economics?
The home economics class revolves around the teaching of life skills that are needed to run an efficient home. They curriculum comprises subjects concerning household finances, budgeting, how to write checks, read a bank statement, pay bills, basic skills for cooking meals, nutrition, maintaining or replacing various common household objects, and being able to sew clothes. These classes were more commonly found in schools around America in the early - mid 20th century and then slowly started to decline in popularity in the 1970s - 1980s.
Why did home economics fade away in the first place?
The Home Economics class faded away into obscurity due to a multitude of reasons. To begin, shifts in priorities in education around the nation called for a focus on college – prep classes; additionally, the focus on college – prep classes would lead to a lower budget allocated to Home Economics classes causing them to fade away. Second, advances in technology have rendered some skills learned in traditional home economic classes obsolete. For example, many foods all over the world have been turned into foods that can be cooked in minutes in a microwave oven like instant ramen, lowering the need to learn how to properly cook a meal. While learning how to feed yourself a nutritious meal is still essential, it is easily done in the modern day using various meal planning apps that can be found all over the internet leading students without the need on how to do it themselves.
Any reason to bring it back?
Although some of the key teachings of a traditional home economics class have disappeared or become worthless when faced with the never-ending shortage of time, there are still some essential skills that need to be taught to the students before they become adults, for example all of the household finance skills traditionally learned in the class like budgeting, writing checks, and paying bills. Not to mention the importance of knowing how to manage a household and how to maintain one, making sure it isn’t falling apart. Knowing how to manage a household not only reduces costs as you’ll know how to maintain it but will also benefit the future generations as they’ll have parents who know how to keep a functional home. Health benefits are also included by teaching kids how to be independent and cook an actual home-cooked meal instead of relying on store-bought already prepared foods. All these skills are essential for living an independent life as an adult and teaching kids these skills should be in the modern-day curriculum as it makes sure they’re ready to live a life away from their parents. One thing that should be done is if it is brought back is to implement modern commonly used technologies in order to adapt the traditional home economics class to contemporary needs.