Definition of Home Economics

Home economics classes are required in most high school across the nation. They teach students about cooking and proper nutrition, how to cook, sew, do home repair, and manage money. Few students and even their parents take home economics seriously. They see it as a necessary space filler and time waster. It is just another barrier to a diploma that the student must get through. At best, home economics classes are seen as valuable only to women who have no career goals and aspirations. What many people don't realize is that the decline in interests in home economics is very likely a reason why so many people have debt problems and poor health today.

History

Home economics began as a college course for women. When the Morrill Act in 1862 established grants for the purpose of teaching agriculture, science and engineering, home economics studies were also created for women to learn life skills. These life skills included home and family management and financial management. In 1899, these studies were named "home economics" at a Lake Placid Conference where leaders in home economics studies and education such as Ellen Richards and Isabel Bevier decided it was important for primary and high school students to also learn these skills.

Significance

Educators and parents are constantly screaming that students need to learn basic life skills, yet they tend to overlook these important core classes that are right under their roofs. With proper attention given to home economics courses, students can learn to make financial and personal decisions. They can learn proper nutrition, and they can learn how to present themselves in order to improve their lives.

Misconceptions

According to the book "Rethinking Home Economics: Women and the History of the Profession, "until recently, historians tended to dismiss home economics as little more than a conspiracy to keep women in the kitchen." That was not the intention of home economics. Home economics also prepared women (and later men) for professions in food services, textiles, and hospitality jobs. A degree in home economics was actually valuable in building a career.

Benefits

Home economics can be a beneficial today as it was when the discipline was created. The most important benefit of home economics is learning about nutrition and diet. Students need to learn how to cook healthy meals that are tasty so they are less likely to spend their entire adult lives in restaurants eating high-calorie foods with no nutritional value. Home economics also teaches about poverty issues, gender equality and social issues. Students learn about community service and become politically active because of exposure to home economics classes.

Potential

Home economics classes can inspire students to any number for useful and profitable career paths. These career paths include education, fashion, nutrition, entrepreneurship, social services and hospitality. With proper attention paid to what is taught in home economics, students would learn the fallacies and pitfalls of misused credit and consumerism. It can help future generations to avoid contributing to economic recessions and depressions that weaken the country as a whole.

References

• What was home economics?
• University of Michigan, Home Economics
• Cornell University, About Home Economics

Resources

• Image Credit: Seattle Municipal Archives