Home of the Week
Madison graduation 2012
Warren County CC graduation
Home > Blogs > Chatterbox > Archives > 2011 > September > 25 > Entry
Should Home Economics be a required course in public schools?
Should Home Economics be a required course in public schools? A recent New York Times column said reviving Home Ec would help fight obesity and chronic disease by teaching nutrition and healthy food preparation.
SHELBY RICHARDSON, Riverside: “I took Personal Development, which included Home Ec. You learned how to sew — we made pillows — and to cook. We made an omelet, quesadillas, chicken wraps. They should require it, especially for guys. A lot of girls took it, but it wasn’t required.”
JANICE BLACKWELL, Virginia Beach, Va.: “I have a niece who just turned 18 and has moved in with me. I’m finding out there are so many basic things teenagers just don’t know. Home Ec could always be beneficial.”
JOANNE DETOMASO, Sugarcreek Twp.: “No. Those skills can easily be embedded in other courses. Instead of sitting through a Home Ec course, students can be taught cooking skills, for example, in a math class — learning the mathematics of a recipe. In health, they can teach nutrition. In a Life Skills class, they learn about taking care of a baby.”
SHARLENE TROUT, Beavercreek: “It certainly couldn’t hurt. It’s a foundational course for life. We opt for the easy things in life too often, such as buying fast food instead of preparing our own.”
KAYLA FULTZ, Sidney: “In middle school, we had a wellness program for two years that included Home Ec, nutrition and gym. We learned about a proper diet and staying active. And we cooked. I remember making cookies and pie.”
ANDREA DETOMASO, Columbus: “It should be required. It would help in daily living. I grew up in a family where my dad did his share of the cooking and the laundry. It’s good for both men and women to learn.”
Tweet
