Bringing Back Home Education Brought Back to Public Schools by Aliyah

Bringing Back Home Education Brought Back to Public Schools by Aliyah - July 2022 Scholarship Essay

Students spend around 7 hours a day at school during primary school. The public school system primarily focuses children on a linear path and definition of success that isn’t universal for everyone. As early as 5th grade I was already thinking about college and what I needed to do to get there because I believed that success was only defined by going to college and getting a degree. College is great and is definitely a means to reach success, but not everyone’s needs success through college. Majority of our students' lives are spent at school but school doesn’t do much to prepare students for life after. Or to introduce students to other means of success.

I hope that in the next 10 years that vocational skills and home education will be taught in public schools allowing students to understand the different opportunities they have as alternatives to college and to learn skills to be self-sufficient once they graduate from high school. Home education was once taught in school and I want to see the school systems bring back these courses. Home economics is important so that students learn about how to sustain themselves and the basic skills to live on their own. Nutritional health, cooking, gardening, budgeting, sewing and other relevant skills should be taught and for young people this can be empowering. Learning hard skills that would allow students to do things for themselves and apply themselves in ways they haven’t before. This addition to the curriculum will create more independent students who don’t have to rely on others but use them for support instead.

I’m particularly passionate about home education being added to public school education systems because for me learning how to cook was one of the most empowering things I’ve done. It boosted my confidence and allowed me to dream that maybe one day I could open up a cafe or a restaurant. I’m not good at math so I don't remember the higher math classes I’ve taken past basic algebra. As a result at times, I've question my intelligence and if I’m deserving to be in some of the academic spaces I occupy. But for cooking I won't forget that knowledge. I feel content having the option to opt out of eating out and just cooking for my family. And the satisfaction when my family enjoys the dishes I’ve prepared for them. The skills you learn from home economics come with a different kind of gratification that academia provides because you can often see a tangible finished product like food, a dress or a crop. The life skills you learn from home education can create a smoother transition into adulthood and reduce the stress that can come with it.

This is also why I’m in favor of vocational skills being taught in high school. Vocational education gives students the skills to work tight after graduation and gives students hands on experience that they normally wouldn’t receive. The traditional 4 year route isn’t for everyone but public schools should offer options for students to succeed and explore what is best for them post highschool.