PURPOSE

It is a laboratory where students acquire skills pertaining to the home and involves
subjects such as: nutrition, cooking, cleaning, financial literary, safety and other
home related skills. It gives students the opportunity to learn life skills like care and
running a household and prepares them for emergencies that will require quick
thinking and swift action. It is where students learn how to organize household
space, conserve resources, sew, plan nutritious meals and observe safety measures
in handling house equipments/materials and in doing household shores. It is a
laboratory that prepares students who will someday be adults with homes of their
own.

he Importance of Home Economics In Schools

Home Economics usually brings to mind sewing aprons and cake baking. However, home economics

classes taught much more. These classes acted as a bridge during the 20 th Century for women to enter

into institutions of higher education and later into professions. When first introduced in the late 1800s,

these classes helped girls prepare for life on the farm helping their families. As universities conducted

research, home economics classes taught advanced classes in nutrition and hygiene as well as

economics. Women who graduated from these advanced programs went on to teaching positions to pass

on this knowledge. This led to positions in hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and even government. Thus,

what is usually thought of as a class for repressed women actually prepared women for the real world and

a career.

Family Finance

Whether a woman is a homemaker, career-driven, married or single, handling personal finances is a skill

that everyone needs to know, and yet is no longer taught in most schools. In 2010, Americans owed over

2,400 billion dollars in consumer debt. The news is filled with stories of foreclosures on homes; and

homeownership, that icon of the American Dream, is declining. Though the recent recession has certainly

hit many families hard, it is also clear that most people do not understand the basics of managing

personal finances.

Home economics classes taught students how to open bank accounts and how to balance a checking

account. Modern classes have expanded to teach the difference in debit cards and credit cards. The

students were also encouraged to think long-term, as the importance of savings and retirement accounts

were explained.

The options for retirement are so varied now that this topic could be a class all its own. Modern home

economics classes break down the differences between IRAs, both traditional and Roth, and 401(k)s.
 Teachers also analyze the way the stock market works, so that students can make informed decisions

when investing their money.

All of this is real-life knowledge and skills that can benefit everyone. Since most high schools and

universities have cut home economics classes from their offerings, these vital topics are no longer taught

in many schools. The information is out on the internet, but it is scattered around on hundreds of

confusing sites. Many experts believe that the modern state of millions of households would be vastly

improved if people were taught at a young age how to manage their money.
The Development of Home Economics This brief overview describes the evolution of home
economics from the domestic arts to the modern teaching of life skills.
Senate Bill 151 As the economy struggles, one state senate debates mandating that personal
finance is taught to all high school students (PDF document).
Teachers Agree That Personal Finance Should Be Taught While a vast majority of teachers
agree that personal finance should be taught to high school students, they feel unprepared to teach it
because they have never taken a class in it themselves (PDF document).
Web-based High School Home Economics Curriculum This high school course concentrates on
the financial aspects of family finances and understanding how the economy works and affects the
individual.

Nutrition and Cooking

While cooking is perhaps the skill people most associate with home economics, like personal finance, it is

a practical skill that most people will need during life. Health experts are alarmed at the rise in obesity in

the nation, which is thought to be caused by a combination of factors, like a more sedentary lifestyle,

prevalence of fast food, and the high use of overly processed foods in the home. In a society when both

men and women are preparing for careers, basic skills like cooking are often neglected. However, a home

economics class can prepare anyone to prepare healthy and nutritious meals for themselves and their

family no matter their schedule.

Home economics classes can teach the latest research in nutrition and food safety. This is a constantly

changing topic as scientists learn and understand more about how the human body works. A home

economics teacher can then take this knowledge and help the students apply it in their lives. They can

teach the proper ways to select, prepare, and cook vegetables. Learning the different cuts of meat and

how to prepare them can not only improve health, but can help keep the budget in check as well.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for modern families is the balance between eating healthily and

not spending a fortune on groceries. A home economics class is the only course which can help students

get a handle on this skill. Where else can a student learn about coupons, organic foods, whole grains, or
 how to grocery shop if they arent learning this at home? The class can also teach students how to

incorporate modern kitchen appliances like rice cookers, bread machines, and crockpots to make

nutritious meals in less time.

Moms Call for Help in the Kitchen A recent study shows that even educated mothers today feel
they need a better grasp of basic kitchen techniques as a coping mechanism during the current
recession.
Cooking with Kids Teaching about nutrition and cooking is best taught by having the students
actually cook. This site gives practical instructions on how to accomplish this in a classroom setting.
Food and Nutrition This classroom material would constitute a basic food and nutrition class in
either junior high or high school.
Home Baking Association Home economics teaches baking as well as cooking. This
association helps parents and teachers pass on safe baking skills to children or anyone else who wants to
learn to bake from scratch.

Textiles

At one time, all young women needed to know how to sew in order to have clothing for their families.

While modern home economics classes still teach sewing, the repertoire has expanded. Along with basic

sewing skills, pupils can also learn how to make curtains and other items for the home. They are also

taught about different textiles: their qualities, care, and purposes. This includes how to do laundry

properly to extend the life of clothing.

Advanced classes even delve into both fashion and interior design. While most people dont sew their

own clothing anymore, everyone must wear clothes. These classes help students understand what colors

complement them, and how to dress their body style. Learning how to recognize quality clothing is also a

key skill. Millions of dollars are spent every year in home decorating. Learning some basic skills the

professionals use can help students in the future when they are establishing their own homes.
Educational Projects in Textiles The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a 100 year history in
the home economics field. The faculty and students have compiled an extensive textile catalog used in
various areas of research and conservation.
High School Home Economics Bishop McDevitt High School in Pennsylvania describes its two
year course in textiles.
Family, Career, and Community Leadership of America Far from being relegated to the kitchen,
this modern association of students and professionals in the home economics field encourage leadership
qualities while developing the students skills in 11 different areas.

Skills For Life

While these three categories encompass a great deal of what home economics classes teach, it really

only scratches the surface. Some classes teach basic home repairs, child care, family interactions, and
 even community service. Instead of a class for housewives, it is really a class in skills for real life and a

great preparation for many careers. In a society where most children grow up with a mother who works

outside the home, many of these skills are no longer being passed on from parent to child. Home

economic classes need to be returned to high schools and universities across the country.
Misconception about Home Economics A brief overview of traditional home economics, this
article dispels many misconceptions about how home economics has affected women.
Modern Home Economics in California This California program describes the role its classes
play in preparing students for their futures.
Home Economics: Important for the Future Home economics teaches important skills used in
everyday life.
International Federation for Home Economics The IFHE defines the four areas of practice of
home economics and their practical uses in the 21stCentury.
Brief History of Home Economics - Learn about how home economics began on this page.