The Forgotten Class by Kyla

The Forgotten Class by Kyla - January 2023 Scholarship Essay

One of the challenges of our education system is striking the right balance between molding well rounded children and the limited amount of time in the school day. There are only so many things kids can learn and classes they can take before burnout sets in and productivity drops. Most schools agree that students should learn a number of core subjects, get some amount of physical activity, and take at least one fine arts class, leaving the rest of the curriculum up to the individual student. These generally agreed upon goals have morphed to some extent over time, and as a result, some classes have fallen to the wayside and been relegated to electives chosen by only a few students. One such class that should be brought back and be required by schools is home economics, primarily because of how it instills important life skills valuable to all adults, provides a number of personal benefits on the individual level, and has the potential to create a more flourishing society.

A good home-ec course covers a wide variety of skills that all adults should know and are valuable no matter what career an individual follows. This can include basic information on nutrition and kitchen safety, finances and taxes, etiquette and manners, and maintenance and repair skills. If schools want to best prepare children for the real world, it makes sense to teach them real world skills and knowledge. Adults need skills such as how to eat a balanced diet, talk on the phone, and balance a checkbook at a bare minimum to function in society. Unlike a number of specialized electives, these skills are applicable to everyone, no matter what their education level, career path, or income. Everyone needs these skills, so it is logical to require children to learn them.

Learning the skills taught in a home-ec course is also an incredibly empowering thing on a personal level. There are many people that move out of their parents’ house, either for college or to join the workforce, and only then realize how much they do not know related to cooking, laundry, or finances. Although plenty of good parents teach their children these basic skills, too many young adults go out into the world with the lack of knowledge in these areas creating additional stress on an already stressful change. Moving out is already a huge transition with plenty of important learning experiences in and of itself, so why add on additional stress that could be largely avoided? Having a greater understanding of home-ec type skills will allow teenagers an easier transition into young adulthood, decreasing their stress and improving their confidence in themselves and ultimately enabling them to succeed.

If home-ec courses are required by schools, not only will they better equip individuals for the future, but they have the potential to create a more flourishing society. When people know home-ec skills and feel that they are capable of succeeding in the world, that success can have a ripple effect into future generations. If more people learn how to provide for themselves and their own well being, they will be capable of passing those abilities on to their children and of benefiting their communities, ultimately creating more independent and functional adults. Well rounded and flourishing people lead to a healthy society that is prepared for the future, and home-ec is an essential part of that.

Home economics is a course that has fallen out of style over the years, but it should certainly be brought back if we want to prepare children to be productive members of society. These are valuable skills intrinsic to daily life as a human being in this society, can provide a number of individual benefits as they decrease stress and improve confidence, and can ultimately create a more successful society.