Home Economics Vs. Shop Class
When I was in high school, we were allowed to choose between home economics and shop class. In my parent’s generation, they didn’t get a vote in the matter - girls took home ec, boys took shop, no questions asked. I’m sure everyone can guess what I picked - yes, shop - it was little old me and about 25 boys. One of our projects was to build a small wooden race car, which we would then race down a small inclined race track. I built my car, and quite well, I might add - but then my father said, “Let’s modify it a little.” After inserting two lead weights in the bottom and coating the axles with graphite, I was ready to race. I blew all the boys out of the water, and my shop teacher held up my car as an example of A. Excellent building skills and B. Knowledge of physics.
I mention this incident for two reasons. First, because it’s a nice memory that my Dad and I share. Second, because I just saw an article on what Moroccan women are being taught in the recently created “Professional Training Centers.” Designed to benefit “girls who have not received or have been unable to complete their formal education to receive training to obtain proper academic qualifications, ” they provide instruction in “information technology-based management, needlecraft, household management, traditional and modern embroidery, hairdressing and beauty treatment, and fashion.”
I was a bit taken aback by that list. It’s like the old Sesame Street song, “One of these things is not like the other, one of these things is not quite the same.” By IT-based “management”, I suspect they’re only teaching them basic computer skills, though I’m glad to hear it. That would allow them to have jobs that are just starting to integrate IT, such as a front desk receptionist at a small hotel. As for the other things - what the heck? What Moroccan woman isn’t already a whiz at household management? As for the others, ugh. I’m all for women learning new skills, but in a larger context. Wouldn’t it be great if they taught hairdressing in conjunction with basic accounting and business management? Then they would have the potential to start their own business and be successful at it.
Oh well. I have to keep reminding myself, ????,????.
October 14th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Yes, slowly, slowly!! We were able to take shop AND home ec in junior high (7th grade). In 8th grade I think we had to choose which one we wanted to take again.
October 14th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
Yep, I was able to take home ec in 7th grade, too - my town called 6-8th grade “middle school.” I kind of liked the cooking demos, but not all the rest of it.
October 14th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
Took both. Hated shop. Loved home ec — we cooked all kinds of good stuff. (I wasn’t so keen on sewing.)
October 14th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
Gosh, you hated shop? Why? Was it the kids in the class, or the teacher, or you just didn’t like making wooden wall sconces and pencil boxes?
In my home ec class, we cooked in groups of 4. One day, a team member named Blythe was in charge of watching the toffee to make sure it didn’t burn. She failed. All the other teams ate super yummy toffee with chocolate coating the rest of the day, while we had none.
Can you tell I haven’t forgiven her?
October 15th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Does IT-based “management” mean downloading couscous recipes?
Took Home Ec and regretted it.
October 16th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
My group of four had the pleasure of getting stuck with the freak. She got written up for something and she ATE the demerit or whatever it was called. Then she burnt our jello. Hello? Burnt our jello! What were we making jellow in home ec for anyway? I know that I was very frightened by this chick. She always threatened me. I wonder what happened to her. At any rate, she did not attend my high school, but her brother did.
October 16th, 2006 at 11:35 pm
OK, so I burnt the jello. Gawd! I ate the demerit paper because I thought it was acid. (even if it was a little too big)