“Hey, Mom, do we have a double boiler?” my 12-year-old son asked me the other day.
“Ummm… no,” I replied, trying to recall what a double boiler even is and whether I’ve ever used one. “I think you can make one yourself with a pot and a mixing bowl… or something like that?”
“Oh, okay,” he said. “But we should really think about getting one. We made brownies from scratch in F.A.C.S today, and actually melting real chocolate made them so delicious.”
“F.A.C.S” stands for Family and Consumer Sciences, which is the contemporary version of Home Economics that my son has been taking this semester at his middle school. Almost daily, he comes home excited to share stories about new delicious dishes he’s cooked, the “cool” kitchen gadgets he utilized, or other charming anecdotes from his culinary adventures — all involving measuring, mixing, cooking, and cleaning.
I must admit, I was skeptical when I learned that my son’s school mandates all seventh graders to take Home Ec. During my own middle school years, I found it to be a rather uncool class — a total throwaway subject that felt trivial, even though both girls and boys participated. I remember my mother mentioning that, in her time, it was primarily girls who were required to take it, which only reinforced my perception of it as outdated and somewhat sexist.
I assumed my son, who is passionate about math and video games and perceives washing the kitchen table as the ultimate chore, would share my disdain. Surprisingly, however, his F.A.C.S. class has become one of the highlights of his day!
Not only is he acquiring valuable life skills — skills he’ll carry with him long after middle school — but he’s also learning practical tasks such as using a double boiler, reading recipes, preparing the stove for cooking, measuring ingredients, cracking eggs (a significant milestone since he never allowed me to teach him!), and, importantly, cleaning up after himself.
Moreover, he collaborates with his classmates on cooking projects, fostering teamwork and cooperation. He’s told me that respectful communication is emphasized in class, alongside teamwork in executing recipes. After this unit, the students will explore topics like etiquette, nutrition, and even career exploration. And get this — they will complete sewing projects on a real sewing machine!
I’m genuinely thrilled about this. These are essential skills that all children should learn (even sewing can be quite handy!), and many are areas where I’ve fallen short in teaching my son. Sure, I occasionally ask him to help with dinner and insist he wash a few dishes, but he’s not as comfortable in the kitchen as he ought to be.
Interestingly, while he finds domestic tasks tedious at home, they seem to become exciting when tackled in a school setting. Who knew?
With the intense focus on academics today, I’m grateful that my son has a hands-on, practical class integrated into his schedule. Besides the real-life skills he’s gaining, it offers a much-needed respite from the pressures of his other subjects.
Curiously, my son’s school is among a dwindling number still offering Home Ec. According to NPR, the availability of Home Economics classes has sharply declined, dropping by 38% in the decade leading up to 2012. This decline is partly due to fewer teachers entering the field and budget cuts that prioritize academic coursework over “life skills” classes.
Gayla Randal, an educational consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education, explained the decreasing popularity of Home Ec in recent years. “Society couldn’t get over the stereotype of the home economics teacher,” she stated. “Anything that wasn’t about a test score was scrutinized,” a reference to the No Child Left Behind initiative and the rise in standardized testing.
Yet, both educators and parents agree that Home Ec imparts critical skills necessary for becoming a well-rounded adult. In my view, “life skills” should be just as important in education as mastering algebra. After all, when was the last time you actually used algebra in real life? Conversely, I bet you’ve done something in the kitchen today.
It’s evident that many children are not picking up these fundamental skills at home. “Sometimes we take for granted that kids know how to wash dishes,” noted Susan Turgeson, president of the Association of Teacher Educators for family and consumer sciences. “I never thought I’d have to break down, step by step, how to use a drain plug or how much soap to use.”
Honestly, my son has no idea what a drain plug is or how to soak a sink full of dishes.
As a mom of two boys, I believe it’s even more crucial that they learn these skills. I appreciate that Home Ec is a required, graded class at my son’s school. It emphasizes the importance of household skills just as much as any other subject.
I’m determined not to raise sons who can’t prepare a decent meal, use the stove, or wash dishes. Absolutely not.
So, let’s advocate for the reintroduction of Home Economics classes everywhere! Thankfully, we’ve moved past the notion that only girls should learn these skills. If these are competencies everyone should have, then let’s ensure they’re taught to everyone!
Our children will benefit as students, adults, partners, future parents, and just as better citizens overall.
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In summary, let’s revitalize Home Economics classes everywhere, ensuring that all children gain the practical skills they need for life.
Keyphrase: Home Economics classes
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