By Abagail Kiem
19% of 21 anonymous students surveyed at Delavan-Darien High School haven’t heard of a Home Economics class or know what a class with this title would teach them. Home economics prepares the younger generation to be independent, teaching subjects such as cooking and sewing. Many teenagers lack essential life skills, so DDHS should offer a Home Economics class to teach basic skills.
Previously, Phoenix Middle School had a class dedicated to helping students successfully transition into adulthood called FACE. It taught students how to sew and cook, among other skills, similar to a Home-Ec class. Many students who took the course remarked that the class helped them learn everyday skills and was enjoyable. These skills would be more applicable as high school students age, meaning that learning the skills now and having the lessons fresh in their minds would be beneficial.
A majority, 61.9% of students, agreed that home economics should be a mandatory high school class, similar to health or personal finance. Most students decided that units teaching cooking, laundry, taxes, and general chores would be beneficial to their development. However, the students commonly expressed concern for existing classes at DDHS like child development, personal finance, and small engine repair (as these topics are often addressed in home-ec). So, 81% of students agreed that if DDHS were to offer a home economics class, the class would not cover material from other courses.
The need for knowledge of essential life skills among the students at Delavan-Darien High School underscores the necessity of a home economics course. With increasing student support for the class, implementing a dedicated home economics course would equip students with the practical skills they need to thrive as adults.
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