Can anyone tell me why cooking and sewing and wood shop were taken out of high school?

Question

Seems that our children still need these skills in life.

Answer 1

Probably lack of funds to continue those programs. It's too bad, kids graduate today and still can't "do" anything.....

Answer 2

Lots of people in administration these days seem to think these classes are "fluff" or unimportant. They are missing the fact that these courses teach kids to think in different ways and develop both academic and non-academic skills. These kinds of administration seem to think that to be seen as a forward thinnking, serious school they need to get rid of classes like home ec, sewing, woodshop, automotives, etc. and replace them with computers and science. What they really need to do is have both. These elective courses can still be quite demanding, and help even the honors and AP kids learn valuable lessons. That's not even considering the fact that (let's be honest) some kids will not go to college or may drop out after one semester. Money is also an issue too.

Answer 3

I agree with you children need to learn the basic skills of home ec especially. I never understood what purpose wood shop had. I graduated in 2001 and we had to take home ec and wood shop in middle school (7th grade). Within high school we had the option to choose home ec as an elective but it wasn't required. You could take it once in high school if you wanted.
I think the main thing, schools are not interested enough in the future of the children to teach what they need to know. They say this and imply this when they say they have no funds for these classes. As I said I graduated in 2001 and I can honestly say I learned nothing in high school it was a waste of time and thinking back on it the high school really ripped me off of an education and its happening more and more in different schools. Kids need a education and within they should be taught the basic skills to survive in the world, sadly they don't because these people don't care.

Answer 4

In some cases this is both true and untrue. I know some schools who have completely removed these classes. As for my school, they've taken cooking, sewing and wood shop and have modified the course to integrate it into a workplace subject that can give the students experience in that field.

For example, cooking has become Food and Nutrition.
(Not only is cooking done in the class but healthy eating is learned)

Sewing has become known as Fashion for students interested in fashion and designing clothes.

Wood shop has become a technological study where computers and technology are used to create products with materials (wood is not always used in order to lower overall costs)

Answer 5

They are considered apprentice type classes, and stupidly most high schools focus on prep for college, even though a large number of students are NOT headed for college. It's a pipe dream

I'm a realist myself. The town I'm from had girls dropping out in 7th grade because they were preggers...They could have used home economics by 6th grade. Not "bake a cake" stuff, but real world stuff like:

Balance a check book
Live on a budget
Keeping house
Buying a car
Simple houshold repairs
Family Planning (Even the Catholic friendly style)
"Know your rights" for employment and renting

How many people do you know right now who would fail this class? How about?

Car maintenance
Home Carpentry & Plumbing
First Aid and Home Medicine
Nutrition and Home Gardening for Food
Appliance Repair

Instead they had me memorize the order the presidents were in office, and the locations of countries but not anything signifigant that happened in any of them (because that's offensive)

You know in other countries they still have apprentice style highschools? you have to test well to go to a college prep highschool. The country focuses the academics into more schooling, and allows the trades people to start training earlier.

Makes sence to me...

Answer 6

Probably a combination of factors, such as budget and the fact that 'cooking' and 'sewing' are considered 'girl' classes, which would be offensive to the minority. Often, these skills are combined into what is now referred to as 'home economics' or 'family and consumer sciences.' Wood shop would be something offered through a vocational school or in vocational classes under a different title, such as woodworking.

Answer 7

Probably because of the lack of funds. Some schools have had to remove or severely restrict the teaching of music and art. The next to go will be PE. Now perhaps people will understand why we have to pay taxes.

Answer 8

They've been renamed. Check out the descriptions of some of the "family" related courses, or ask at the school.

Answer 9

Possibly because of the high risk of injury and the increasing rate of liability inurance. This is only a guess.

Answer 10

Our school in Pennsylvania still have these classes, but they're offered at an earlier grade.